OSTRICH-FARMING. incubators is that the birds’ feathers are in primest condition at the time of incubation, and that many (F ro m Spoil’s “ Encyclopcediae.”) of their, get spoilt during the time when the birds The roaring of ostriches has assumed consider­ are sitting. As soon as hatched, the chicks should able importance, notably in our 8. African . be kept in a warm but well-ventilated coop, which The natural home of the bird is there found in may be const! ne ed of a box, containing a lot of the “ karroo ” plains and swcct-grass flats of the chenille or other warm material hanging from the interior, and though it sometimes resorts to the roof. They are fed at first on bread crumbs, bran, long sour-grass of the coast, it will not thrive on and water; on the fourth day they may he let out the “ strand veldt” or sour-grass of the sandstone during the day iuto a little enclosure made around ridges. This is explained by the fact that alkalies the incubator, and may then have grain, bread, and are essential to the health of the bird and the proper green vegetables. They are taken in at night. Until development of its feathers; and where care is taken 3 mouths old mortality is great among them, and to supply this deficiency, ill the shape of food, less even after that age many break their lugs and have difficulty will be found in selecting a site for the to be killed. farm. The must be open, and the soil The bird yields its first plumes at the age of 8 should be sandy in places. Opinions vary as to months, and continues to do so at intervals of 8 whether the birds should be confined in a narrow months throughout- its life, which varies, according area, and fed by hand; or be allowed to run free to different authorities, from 8 to 100 years, but over a large space, and pick up their own living. may probably average 25-35 years. The first feathers The latter plan seems to produce feathers of the best are small and of little value. The gathering of the appearance. The paddocks must be well fenced with plumes is a delicate operation, performed either by loose stone walls, or post and wire fencing, about plucking them out bodily, or by severing them near 4 ft. high. The number of birds allowed on an acre the base by means of a sharp knife. The former may vary from 30 birds on 8 acres, to 2 i birds on plan was long the only one, and gives the greater 50 I acres, according to the nature of the land, and weight of feather ; but it is now generally superseded the amount of food artificially supplied. Shed accom. by the latter, as it often produces a kind of irritation modation must be provideil for the birds to seek fever in the birds. When cutting is adopted, the shelter in by night or during storms, and over-crowd­ stumps require pulling! out about a month or 6 weeks ing must be car' fully avoided. The birds require later, unless they have already been shed naturally. water, and are fond of bathing during the hottest Neither method appears to cause the bird any appreci­ season. In the matter of food, considerable latitude able pain. The operation is performed while the is observed. For young birds, lucerne, thistles, herbs, birds are placed singly in a padded crib, or are so and indigenous grasses suffice ; as the season advances, densely packed as to leave no room for kicking. these may be supplemented by fruit and grain (bar­ Ostrich-farming is being experimentally undertaken ley, maiz-1, &c.). A mature bird will require 20 lb. by the Acchm itiz itioii Soci' ty of Victoria, on the of lucerne, or 3 lb. of grain, daily. If necessary, lime Wimmera and on the Murray Downs, and has quite must be supplied in the form of bones, besides which, recently been instituted in South Australia. Many » little sulphur and salt should be provided. circumstances have had au unfavourable influence upon j he birds are paired at the age of five years, one the results attained, so that these have not hitherto male being coupled with one or two females. Separ­ been encouraging; nevertheless, the industry is being ate pens are provided for this purpose. Nidifieation persevered in, and a parcel of the feathers sent to begins in July. Laying commences in August, and the London market were pronounced belter than any lasts for about six weeks, the eggs numbering 15 20 from the Cape. Still more recently it is stated that from each hen. If not removed for artificial incuba­ African ostriches have been introduced into the Banda tion, the birds take turns in sitt'ng on them, till Oriental and the Argentine Republic; it is intended they are hatched, in October. On taking away the to keep the breed quite distinct from the native young brood, the hen will lay again about Dvce nber, Rhea, as crossing them produces a sterile race with but is then not nearly so proliS-. It is se dom that inferior plumes. the birds are allowed to hatch out their brood, much Classification, Value., and Uses of Ostrich Plumes — better results being obtained by the use of artificial As the feathers are gathered, they are sorted accord­ incubators. The form of incuba‘nr most commonly ing to Iheir quality, the operation being generally employed is that devised by A. Douglass, of Hilton. entrusted to negroes. The best white plumes known It consists of a deal box, about 3 ft. square, open as “ bloods,” are only the tail and primary wring above, and resting upon a copper or zinc pan 3 in. feathers ; the black plumes are secondary wing feathers. deep, and of the same area as the box. This pan The classification of Cape ostrich feathers for London contains hot water, the vapour of which ascends markets are as follows :—(1) W h i t e ; w i l d . bloods, through suitable openings into the box above. The fiue ; Prims, best; Prim 1, long usual; I. and II. temperature of the water is maintained by an oil mixed ; seconds ; seconds ami thirds mixed ; thirds ; lamp burning beneath a portion of the pan, separ­ tam e: finest quality, cut quill; Prima, usual; Piima, ated bv a wall from the incubating room, to avoid ordinary defective tops ; seconds ; seconds and thirds the ill effects of the fumes upon the young clocks. mixed. (2j Kemixa light color, good quality ; usual; The heat is constantly regulated by m ans of thermo­ ha f-da k; dark. (3) By o k s white, with black spots. meter” : the temperature of the box should be (4) Boos : —tail feathers, white usual, light I cm. ; 39° (02° F.) when it receives the eggs; after 2 weeks dark ftm . (5) B lv ck long and m edium g od ; m e­ it is reduced to 37f° (100° F.); and, in 2 weeks dium and s h o r t; short, (fi) D r a b : —gr y, long and more, to 36}° (98° F.) Incubati m lists for 42 days. medium ; medium and short ; short. (7) S p a d u x e s :— The eggs are turned and aired by opening the box white and light fem ; fern ; drab. The relative quali­ and removing the blanket covering once or twice daily. ties of the feathers from different a e in the A fortnight before the incubation is finished, the eggs followin' order, beginning wi h the best:—(1) “ 41 p- are examined against the light, to ascertain l.ow soon po,” from Syria; the finest in plumage, breadth, the ha. tiling may take pace; and a week later, those grace, and colour; very rare; (2) “ Barb.iry” from containing weak chicks are carefully punctured near Tripoli; (3) “ St. Louis ” from Senegal; (4) “Egypt ” the small end, to assist the occupants in effecting do not blench thoroughly white: (0) “ Mogador” tlic:r escape. The proportion of fuilu.es should not fiom Morocco; (6) “ Cape” as good in colour as exceed 1 in 12; in natural hatching it amounts to “ Aleppo,” but of inferior quality ; (7) “ Yemen,” or 4 in 20. Another good reason for adopting artificial (erroneously) “ Senegal,” from Arabia; plumage thin 61 and poor. Prices fluctuate somewhat, and range from ENEMIES OF OSTRICHES. over £00 a lb. down to a merely nominal figure. In A serious plague among young ostriches has been spite of enormously increased production, the demand spr ading over South Africa during recent years. A seems to k<-ep pace with the supply, though the price post-mortem examination made by Mr. Arthur Douglass has fallen somewhat. Wild weathers always s*dl discovered the troub'e to arise from the presence of more readily than tame ones, the reason being that myriads of small thin worms adhering to the coats the latter are much stiffer and less graceful, have of the ostrich's stomach. Specimens were sent to Dr, “ galleries” in the quill, and resume their stiffness Spencer Cobold, of London, who pronounced them even after dressing and curling. The principal applica­ unknown to science, and named them Strongylus tion of the plumes is for the decoration of court douglassii. The importance of the discovery may be and military dresses, ladies’ bonnets, hearses, &c. estimated from the fact that ostriches are worth Before use, the plumes are either bleached or dyed. from 750 dol. to 900 dol. a pair, while the ostrich They are first washed in soap lather, rubbed well industry is a source of great revenue to South Africa. with the hands, and passed through chan scalding The cause of the plague being known, some means of water. The bleaching of white feathers is performed destroying the parasite may be looked for.— Australasian. in the following way :—The feathers are first exposed to the action of sun and dew fur about a fortnight, are washed in a hot bath containing Spanish white— THE USE OF THE FEET IN SOWING AND the softest and purest white chalk—and are then passed PLANTING. through three clean waters : next, they are blued by (From th e F iji Tim es, 28th M ay 1881.) a rapid passage through a cold bath containing indigo ; after this, they are sulphured, by being suspended in [Read before the American Association of Nursery­ a sulphuring stove; and are finally hung upon cords men at Cleveland, O., by Peter Henderson, of Jersey to dry, being occasionally shaken to open the fibres. , N. J.] A more recent process, invented by Viol and Duplot, It may seem useless to throw out suggestions relat­ is to immerse the feathers in resinous essences, such ive to horticultural operations to such a body of as turpentine or in essential oils at about 30° (86° F.), practical men as is now before me. Yet I candidly and to subject them to the action of light for a longer admit that although I have been extensively engaged or shorter period, according to the degree of decolora­ in gardening operations for over a quarter of a cent­ tion desired. After this, they are finished in the ury, I did not fully realize, until a few years ago, usual way by scraping the barbs with a blunt edge, the full importance of how’ indispensable it was to so as to produce the much-admired curl. Dark-hued use the feet iu the operations of sowing and planting. feathers, after being bleached by the last-named pro­ Particularly in the sowing of seeds I consider the cess, may be dyed almost any shade. Another method matter of su h vast importance, that it cannot be of bleaching is by a batli containing 4 5 parts per­ too often or too strongly told, for the loss to the manganate of potash in 1,000 parts water ; a similar agricultural and horticultural community by the neg­ solution of sulphate of magneda is added, and heated lect of the simple operations of forming the soil around to 60° (140° F.) max. The previously washed feathers seed must amount to many millions annually. From are put iuto the bath, taken out, rinsed, and passed the middle of April to nearly the end of May of this through sulphuric acid at l^°-3° IV . year, in many sections of the country, there was Artificial Ostrich Feathers.—The Americans are said little or no rain ; such was particularly the case in to be manufacturing large quantities of artificial the vicinity of New York City; where we have ostrich plumes, the quill being composed of celluloid, hundreds of market gardeners who cultivate thousands or rattan cane, and the barbs of silk waste. of acres of cabbage, cauliflower, and celery; but the Other Plumes.—Besides the ostrich there are many dry spring has plaj’ed sad havoc with their seed giant hirds belonging to the families Struthionidae and beds. Celery is not one-fourth of a crop, and cab­ Apterygidae, possessing plumes of more or less value. bage and cauliflower hardly half; and this failure is One of the most important of these is the Rhea or due to no other cause than that they persist in sow­ South American ostrich (Rhea americana), whose range ing their seeds without ever taking the precaution extends from Bolivia, Paraguay, and S Brazil, as to firm the soil by rolling. far as the Straits of Magellan; while two other spe­ We eow annually about four acres of celery, cab­ cies, Darwin’s Rhea (R. Darwini), and the long-billed bage, and cauliflower plants, which produce probably R h ea (i2. macrorhynca)9 share with it portions of the five millions in number, and which we never fa.l to same . The birds are at present ruthlessly sell, mostly in our immediate to the hunted, and, a few years since, were being killed at market gardeners, who have, many of them, even the rate of 300,000-500,000 per annum. Though, from better facilities than we have for raising these plants their hardy nature and omnivorous habits, the birds if they would only do as we do—firm the seed after are easily kept in confinement, little has yet been sowing, which is done thus :—After ploughing, har­ done in this direction The feathers are collected rowing, and levelling the land smoothly, lines are chiefly in the Banda Oriental, Bahia, Blanca, Entre drawn by the “ marker,” which makes a furrow Rios, as well as Patagonia, and are shipped from about two inches deep and a foot apart. After the Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. The exports from man who sows the seed follows another, who, with Argentine Ports in 1874 were:—To the United States, with the ball of the right foot presses down his full 19 tons; France, 18 tons; England, 2 tons; other weight on every inch of soil in the drill where the countries, 21 tons. Th< ir value is put at about 4s a seed has been sown ; the rows are then lightly levelled lb., the male feathers bringing the higher prices. longitudinally with the rake, a light roller is then They enter European commerce as “ vulture feathers,” passed over it, and the operation is done. and the majority of them, the dark-greys, are made By this method our crop has never once failed, and into feather-brooms. what is true of cabbage and celery seed, is nearly Imports oj Ornamental Feathers.—Our imports of true of all other seeds requiring to be sown during ornamental feathers, including ostrich plumes, in 1878 the late spring or summer mouths. were as follows :—From France, 120,928 lb.; British On July 2nd, 1874, as an experiment I sowed twelve Possessions in S. Africa, 78 947; British E. Indies, rows of sweet corn and twelve rows of beets, tread­ 25,313; Egypt, 12,394; Aden, 4,946 ; Malta, 4,485; ing in after sowing every alternate row of each. In Holland, 4.346; Morocco, 3,083; Bel.dum, 1,551; both cases those trod in came up in four days, while other countries, 8,806; total, 264,799 lb,; value those unfirmed remained twelve days before starting, <£1,002,902. and would not then have germinated had rain nou fallen, for the soil was dry as dust when planted. There are few of us but have had such experience ; The result was that the seeds that had been trodden personally, I must say that I never pass through a in grew freely from the start, and matured their year but I am confounded to find that some opera­ crops to a marketable condition by fall, while the tion can not only be more quickly done, but better rows unfirmed did not mature, as they were not only done, than we have been in the habit of doing it, eight days later in germinating, but the plants weic Th' improvements loom up from various causes, also to some extent enfeebled by being partially dried but mainly from suggestions thrown out by our em­ in the loose dry soil. ployees in charge of special departments, a system This experiment was a most useful one, for it proved which we do all in our power to encourage. that a corn-crop sown in the vicinity of New York, As a proof of the value of such improvements as late as July 2nd, could be made to produce which have led to simplifying our operations, I will “ roasting ears ” in October, when they never fail state the fact that though my area of green hous». to sell freely at high rates; but the crop would not surface is now more than double that which was in. mature unless the seed germinated at once, and which 1870, and the land used in our florist’s business one- would never be certain at that dry and hot season, third more, yet the number of hands employed is unless by this method. less than in 1870, and yet at the same time thee The same season in August I treated seeds of tur­ quality of our stock is infinitely better now lhan then. nips and spinach in the same way; those trod in Whether it is the higher price of labour in this germinated at once and made an excellent crop, while country that forces us into labour-saving expedients, those unfirmed germinated but feebly, and were eventu­ or the interchange of opinions from the greater of ally nearly all burned out by a continuance of dry hot air nationalities centreing here that gives us broader views penetrating through the loose soil to the tender rootlets. of culture, I am not prepared to state; but that Of cour-e this rule of treading in or firming seeds America is now selling nearly all the products of after sowing must not be blindly followed. Very the green-house, garden, nursery and farm lower than., early in spring or late in fall, when the soil is damp, is done in Europe admits of no question, and if m y and no danger from heated dry air, there is no necessi­ homely suggestions in this matter of firming the soil ty to do so ; or even at other seasons the soil may around newly-planted seeds or plants will in any degree be in a suitable condition to sow, and yet be too assist us in still holding to the front, 1 will be gratified. damp to be trodden upon or rolled. In such cases these operations may not be necessary at all, for if rainy weather ensues, the seeds will germinate of USEFUL GARDEN RECIPES. course; but if there is any likelihood of continued To M a k e B l a c k Vaknish.—One gallon of coal tar, drought, the treading or rolling may be done a week half a pint of spirits of turpentine, 2 oz. of oil of or so after sowing, if it is at such a season, as there is vitriol, stirred, and laid on like paint. Mix with a reason to believe that it may suffer from the dry hot air. piece of wood or stick the tar and vitriol, and then Now, if firming the soil around seed to protect it add the turpentine, and apply it with a brush. Mix from the influence of a dry and hot atmosphere is no more than you can use at once, and then apply it a necessity, it is obvious that it is even more so in as it becomes thick. the case of plants, whose rootlets are even more Bone-Mrial.—The value of bones (says the Journal sensitive to such influence than the dormant seed. of Horticulture) in various forms as a manure is ad­ Experienced professional horticulturists, however, mitted, and bone-meal has been frequently recom­ are less likely to neglect this than to neglect in the mended in our columns as a good and safe manure case of seeds, for the damage from such neglect is for plants and crops. We extract the following from easier to be seen, and hence better understood by the our small manual Manures for the Many :—All bones practical nurseryman. But with the inexperienced contain more than half their weight of phosphate of amateur, the case is different. When he receives his lime, and are beneficial as a manure, because that package of trees or plants from the nurseryman, he chief constituent phosphate of lime is also a constitu­ handles them as if they were glass. Every broken ent of all plants; and the gelatine which is also in twig or root calls forth a complaint, and he proceeds bones is of itself a source of food to them. The to plant them gingerly, straightening out each root bones must be applied to the crops in very small and sifting the soil aroend them. But he would no pieces, or in powder; and 10 lb., at the time of in­ more stamp down that soil than he would stamp the serting the seed, are enough for 30 square yards, if soil of his mother’s grave. So the plan t, in nine cases sown broadcast; and a much sm Her quantity is. out of ten, is left loose and waggling, the dry air sufficient if sprinkled along the drills in which the, penetrates through the soil to its roots, the winds see I is sown. There is no doubt that bone-dust may shake it, it shrivels up and fails to grow. Then be employed with advantage in all gardens and to comes the anathemas on the head of the unfortunate all garden crops; but it has been experimented on nurseryman, who is charged with selling him dead most extensively with the turnip and potato, and with leaves or plants. unfailing benefit. Mixed with sulphur, aud drilled-in About a month ago I sent a package of a dozen with the turnip seed, it has been found to preserve roses by mail to a lady in Savannah. She wrote me the young plants from the fly. Mr, Knight found it a woful story last week, saying that though the roses beneficial when applied largely to stone fruit at the had arrived seemingly all right, they had all died time of planting ; and it is quite as good for the vine. but one, and what was very singular, she said, the To lawns the dust has been applied with great ad­ one that, lived was the one that Mr. Jones stepped ' vantage when the grass was becoming thin. As a on, and which she had thought sure was crushed to manure for the shrubbery, parterre, and green-house death, for Mr. Jones weighs 200 lb. Now, though it is also most valuable; and crushed as well as we do not advise any gentleman of 200 lb. putting ground, is employed generally to mix with the soil his brogan ou the top of a tender rose plant as a of potted plants.” The value of bone-meal has been practice conducive to its health, yet if Mrs. Jones rendered in the following expressive and suggestive could have allowed her weighty lord to press the soil verse, which students in schools of agriculture might against the root of each of her dozen roses, I much well commit to memory :— doubt if she would now have to mourn their loss. It has often been a wonder to many of ns who “ No bone-dust, no turnips ; no turnips, no wheat ; have been workers in the soil for a generation how No wheat and no turnips, no cattle, no m eat; some of the simplest methods of culture have not been No turnips, no cattle, nor manure in the yard, practised until we were nearly done with life’s work. Make bills for the doctors, and farming go hard.’* THE JAPAN PEA. the oxygen by means of an electric current, and There is nothing in the list of forage plants that the boiler is then gently fired and k*-pt hot for excels the Japan pea for our soil and climate. T. forty-eight or fifty hours, after which time th,e E. Martin and JR. T. Rutledge, both progressive farmers process of preservation of wood is complete. of our country, tell me that the Japan pea is the most productive as well as good food that they have ever grown, for all kind of stock ; horses, cattle, sheep, THE WOOD APPLE. and hogs will eat the peas, stems, and leaves, if harvested before fully matured and cured like other Wood apple [Ferowa elephantum). H indi, K y a th hay, with as much relish as they do corn. Then or Cavittex Velugu, Y a la g -h ii; and Tamil, V el/am . there is no pea for the table, if s -aked in water the This tree is consider d by not a few to be useless night before cooking, that has a more exquisite perhaps, because it grows wild, and is to be found flavor. They grow on a stout bushy stalk from two in almo-t every place, especially in the jungles. Hence, to three feet high, somewhat re-ciubling the cotton 1 surmise, ic has met with only a curs uy notice in plant. The main stalk, as well as the branches of our Garden Manuals, and is said to be—‘’not entitled limbs, are literally leaded with small pea pods filled to a place in the garden.” To disabuse the minds with little yellow peas, similar in color, size and of some folks I shull hete note some of the many flavor to the English garden pea. They can be grown purposes to which this tree (that is prettily clustered with the corn crop very successfully, by planting o with fruit) is applied to. I shall commence with its— hill or peas betwe n each hill of corn at the second (a). F r u i ty when ripe, and after the globular shell ploughing, same as the ordinary stock or field peas. is broken, it has a very strong odour. The tartish But the way to get the greatest yield is to plant pulp is farinaceous and granular which is eaten with in hills two and-a-half feet each way, allowing but sugar; some make a hot weather beverage of it like one stalk to the hill to remain after the first working. th e “ mango fool.” A most delicious and palatable That will give you 6,9 10 stalks to the acre, and on jelly is made from the juice of the pulp, and which, ordinary land, cultivated the same as corn, w 11 average if pro-jerly made, will gratify all connoisseurs. T h e at the lowest estimate, a pint of s elled peas to the colour of the jelly is of a lovely ruby, and a stalk, or a fraction over 108$ bushels per acre. 1 belter kind could hardly be made from auy other doubt not that with high cultivation and good soil Indian fruit. Certainly it cannot be excelled. (Wood it would be an easy matter to double that yield, Apple and Guava mixed also make a good jelly). besides, there is no other crop thit will yield move Although “ Firminger ” pronounces the jelly “ to bo hay to the acre. In fact, 1 know of no crop so such as it is not likely would be approved of by remunerative as the J ipan pea. It is a sure cropper, many,” but I beg to differ from this opinion. The as clearly demonstrated by my experience with this unripe fruit is made into pickle and “ c h u t n e y T ho season’s crop. Neither wet nor dry weather materially next is the— interferes with the quantity or quality of the yield. (b). Shell from which humming tops are made. — Mississippi Patron. Rockets are abo manufactured from it for making Mr. Stripes uncomfortable in his den. Now I come to th e — ARTIFICIAL SEASONING OF TIMBER. (c). Foliage.—The tender leaves which have a sweet arom a are much prized by natives; they use it ex­ Mr. C. Rend, pain'/forte manufacturer, of Stettin, tensively for curing flatulency. Germany, as reported in Engineering, has devised a (d). Timber containing saccharine matter is much plan by which he utilises the property of oxygen, relished by “ borers,” and rrndtrs it useless ; bub it particularly of that ozonised by the electric current, finds a ready place in the kitchen. to artitic.ally season the timber usjd for the sounding- (e). T he viscous juice produced from this useful boards of musical instruments. The first impulse to tree is equal to the gum obtained from the Babool experiments being carried out in this direction was (Acacia arabica) commonly known as “ Gum Arabic,** given by the well-known fact that wood, which has Last, though nut least, I conclude with its— been seasoned for years, is much more eirtable for if). Medicinal properties. —T he unripe fruit whet* the manufacture of musical instruments than if used m ade into decoction acts like an astringent T he ripe soon after it is thoroughly dried only. Mr. Rend fruit is an antiscorbutic, its effect being much similar claims that instruments made of wood which has to the B a d (jEgle mannelos.) been treated by his oxygen process possess a remark­ After enumerating the above uses of this generally ably fine tone, which not only does not decrease with despised Wo

I n d ia n T e a s . The following review applies to the Melbourne market only :— The introduction of these teas to the Victorian, C h i n a T e a s . —Season 1880-1881 was fairly opened people has been one of the features of season by the arrival of the “ Killarney ” on the 26th July, 1880-81, and we warmly welcomed the arrival of 1880, and the first public sale by auction took place this import, not onl(y because the country in which on the 27th July, wheu 8214 packages were offered, it is grown forms a part of the British Empire, and and the bulk sold. Since that date sales by auction is the outcome of the enterprise of British subjects have been frequent and heavy, amounting in the but because India in return is likely to become a aggregate to 4,395,5201b. weight, disposed of through large consumer in the immediate future of Austra­ this medium, details of which we give below :— lian products. 19,240 lb. sold at 3Jd to 4Jd, The formation of the Calcutta Tea Syndicate was 32,520 lb. sold at 7(1 to 7£d. a happy thought, and the mode in which they brought lou,480 lb. sold at 7i

J a v a . FORESTRY AND TIMBER IN THE STRAITS. The Government Crop. 1881. 1SS0. 1879. Mr. II. J. Murton of the Singapore Botanical Gard­ 815.300 bags* 558,800 bags 1,260,000 bags en, iu concluding a series of papers on the “ Timber or or or Trees of the Straits ” published by the Straits Times, 43,400 tons 33,200 tons 74,800 tons makes the following observations, which the Ceylon * Latest estimate. Government and their advisers may well take into, consideration :— As regards future supplies of timber, the Straits DIVI-DIVI; LIBI-DIVI; LIBI-DIBI. have little need of the introduction of exotic species A correspondent asks : “ What is the Sinhalese of timber trees, if the indigenous kinds are properly name for divi-divi ? ” We do not know that there is attended to; as in addition to those described in my any Sinhalese name, the natives not being acquainted former contributions, there are numerous indigenous with the divi-divi, which nre the astringent pods of timber producing Dipterocarpece, Latirinew, and Leg*~ Catsalpinia coriaria, a tree which is described as follows minotuB, etc., etc., which as yet are but slightly in th e Treasury of Botany coriaria is a small known to the systematist, although native woodmen tree twenty or thirty feet high, native of several of the are perfectly familiar with them, and their distant- 64 guishing characteristics. The Government might well one day, may be called to lord it over and direct consider the advisability of attempting to impart hundreds of servants, coolies and others, doing their some rudimentary knowledge of forestry and the bidding,-—are found the next, handling the plough for distinguishing characteristics of our indigenous trees to themselves and working as hard with their hands as the Government Forest Bangers. if they never had a servant in their lives. Ceylonese For this purpose no scientific botanical training is young men who are directing their thoughts towards necessary, as the wry few technicalities that are agriculture as the one likely means of livelihood in requisite should be easily mastered, and if they had the future ought to ponder this lesson and lay it free access to such works as Brown’s The Forester, well to heart: B randis’s Forest Flora of India , and Ivurz’s Forest Honour and shame from no condition rise ; Flora of British Burmah, etc., etc., they would soon Act well your part—there all the honour lies. been to feel an interest in the subject, and the study would be taken up more for the sake of the pleasure | WHAT CEYLON PLANTERS CAN DO IN THE and gratification it would afford than for the increased I FAR WEST. pay such knowledge—when acquired—might secure. Visitors to Singapore would not then be shocked | A LITTLE CEYLON COLONY IN MINNESOTA. by the sight of the grotesque objects on the road­ [Matale, July 29tli.—I enclose you a letter I have sides, now designated trees, which are periodically just received from my late superintendent, portions cut and hacked to suit the taste and fancy of some of which may be of interest to your numerous Kling coolie, until they have lost all trace of Nature’s readers and especially to those who would fain seek handiwork beyond a few shrivelled leaves at the pastures new.] ends of skeletonis d, moss and liclieu-covered branch- M ay 29fch, 1881, M innesota, U. S. A. lets, which forcibly remind the most casual observer I hope things are not such a dazzling blue as they that if it be true that “ a thing of beauty is a joy were when I left Ceylon. I was only at home for for ever,” there is also a reverse of the quotation. four months and got very tired of doing nothing, so cut Nothing would advance the knowledge of our timber my stick and set out for this “ great and enlightened trees or create an interest in forestry so much as country,” which, on the whole, I like very well, though the establishment of a Wood Museum at the Botan­ of course in a new country you don’t find every­ ical Gardens, aftvr the style of the Wood Museum thing ready cut and dried for you, like you do in a t Kew. Ceylon, but must make up your mind to make the The nucleus of such a collection has long since been best of and laugh at everything that happens. We formed—and if atypical collection of our indigenous are right on the prairie, and Heron Lake, a small timbers could be got together there, where their village and our post town, is about 4 miles distant ; vertical and transverse sections, their adaptability there is also a railway station there, which makes to polishing, the characteristics of their barks, etc., trsmport easy. We are getting quite an English could be studied and compared with the growing colony around, and Ceylon is well represented. There trees in the grounds, a useful school of forestry would are A. B. Kier, of Haloya, Nilambe; Blenkiron, Morawak be established, and an interesting addition be made to K«-rale; Peto, Rakwana ; Thomson, Haputale ; (expected the Gardens. 20th June), and myself besides about 8 other Englishmen. By *uck a typical collection, intending exhibitors The balance is composed of Yankees, Germans, Dutch, at International and Intercolonial Exhibitions would and Norwegians. I consider it a particularly good be able to systematically name their collections, and opening for any young fellow with a small capital, the most casual observer would always find some­ who is not afraid or ashamed to work with his own thing in it to interest him. hands. Of course, later on we shall manage to em­ ploy more men and so do less ourselves, but labour is exceedingly expensive, and so we just ‘* buckle to” A CEYLON PLANTER’S COLONY IN THE and share all work equally with the farm labourers. Up at 5 ; water horses, milk cows, and harness teams. F A R W E S T . Then breakfast; when finished “ hitch up,” and each We call special attention to the interesting communi­ goes off with his plough and works away until 12, at cation from an ex-coffee planter in Minnesota ad­ which time dinner. Then plough on till 6.30, water dressed to a friend in Ceylon. It describes, graphically horses, &c., and home to supper about 7-30. We only and instructively, an entirely novel phase of life, in put in £ 1,000 each, but if one has capital you need only do the “ boss.” Living here comparatively no­ the experience of our wandering colonists at least, thing, as you raise everything you consume, with the and ib also shews how widely Ceylon men have got exception of tea, tobacco, and oil, which you trade scattered since the depression in coffee commenced in for your butter and eggs. We are going in chiefly 1878. We hear of them, from time to time, in the for stock raising (as this line of farming pays better Straits, Java, Borneo, Fiji, New Zealand, the differ­ and is less risky than grain), only raising enough grain to feed our stock and ourselves. You can pro­ ent Australian Colonies, South Africa, Brazil, West cure Tailroad land at $5 per acre in the state it Indies, and now in the Western States of North was made, but the better way is to purchase improved America. Certainly, the Minnesota picture of an in­ farms from the present settlers at ajbout SS to $10 dustrious but cheerful and healthful life* is not the per acre. These men are poor. They have previously least attractive to men not afraid of work, and we had land (160 acres) granted them, but having no capital to commence with, and having gone in for should not be surprised to find several in our midst, expensive machinery for which they never can pay, now on the lookout for “ new fields of enterprise,” are hopelessly in debt. They are such fools—every petty taking their departure for the Far West. What a farmer going in for hie own machinery instead of lesson there is here for the many in Ceylon who are joining together and getting it. The heat here in afraid or ashamed to dirty their hands with good summer is intense, the thermometer often showing 90 degrees in the shade ; while in winter the cold is honest hard work ! Such have, in this Minnesota equally unbearable, the thermometer sometimes being letter, evidence of how contentedly Englishmen, who, 25 to 30 degrees below zero. However, the Ceylon men have not suffered and say that they would “never * News has since come of a terrible tornado sweep­ have known it except for the thermometer.” There ing over Minnesota, destroying life and property. are still heaps of snow under the manure heaps and a sheet of ice about 3 inches thickness in the cistern. tion, but would be glad to subscribe to the school, I have never felt so fit in my life. There is no would attend church or do anything reasonable, but I liquoring “ Ceylon madiri ” here. You can get beer drew a line at making my dining-room a public sub rosd in the lake, but we never keep it. Kier spittoon. This will all change as we take deeper came up from St. Paul’s the other day, and brought root. I have an agent in London canvassing for me, up a bottle and unexpectedly brought me out a glass and I board gentlemen (for a premium) “ on very ad­ while I was ploughing, and I can tell tell you it was vantageous terms.” I don’t regret leaving Ceylon now. nectar. W hat would not I give for a gang of coolies ad­ 1 did at first, as I liked the old place, but there, unless vanced ad libitum ! I came with the Hon. George Hamil­ you go into coffee, which is generally a pretty perman­ ton who came out to see what sort of an invest­ ent investment, you have no settled home. ment it would be. H e’s the son of Lord Some-one, and on arriving in New York he sent his valet back. THE PRESENT TEA SEASON. On arriving at the hotel up here, he ea.v a lot of Although the Tea season has only just fairly com­ common-looking men hanging about (and did not un­ menced, still the views we expressed on the subject derstand you had to live with livery stablemen, &c.), of speciality are borne out by the prices which have and went up to one and said : “ Who is the man who already been obtained on the market. At the public has to clean boots,” and was answered: “ Well, sales New Season’s Teas were sold at rates which stranger, if you want your boots cleaned, I guess cannot be deemed satisfactory to importers, considering you ’d better do it yourselfw hich the hon. gentle­ that it was the first steamer, and a clear week is man did aud made me laugh by remarking : “ Well, given to sell the teas in. In many instances a rather this is the first time I’ve ever cleaned my own boots, gloomy view is taken of the future. We do not share and hanged if they ’re not much better done than m the extreme pessimists’ opinions, because according yours.” T hat’s the style here. Everyman is your equal, to advices from India the present crop in that country and though it’s rough work, you must not mind Bill is also much below last year, and as a consequence Smith, the ploughboy, addressing you thus: “ I say, the imports to this country will for some time fall Captain, give us a smoke,” at which you ’re expected short of expectations, and there will therefore be an to hand over your pipe for B. S.'s use ! At this, how­ opening for the China produce. But, on the other ever, I draw a line, and pt lilely but firmly decline hand, the experiences even thus early in the season to accommodate the said Bill. At the hotels, the en­ are once more such as to force on the importers the lightened American uses his one knife to help necessity for greater caution in cheir purchases. India himself to butter and also to eat with, whereas the is undoubtedly making great inroads on the market, unenlightened Britisher still maintains the use of the and the care bestowed on the manufacture in the Euro­ fork for eating purposes, and does not consider it pean supervised estates is producing an article which necessary to whet his knife in his mouth before making is maintaining the position it has taken up. We trust a “ swoop” on the butter. This is trying, but as the season advances a better tone will prevail for there’s money to he made. The first year you can China Teas, and the losses now incurred may be made w ith ordinary luck make 10 per cent on your capital, up by subsequent gains ; but that anything like ad­ and of course the first year is mostly paying out. equate profits will be realised is much open to question. I liked the life in Ceylon, but consider it The subject is really a serious one for importers, and not worth the candle. Take for example such it is time they took some steps to do away with the m en as ------. He gets his screw and spends abnormal competition which exists amongst them. We it. What will he do in his old age, or what would shall wait and watch events before alluding to the his wife do in the event of his death? Were subject again, and if the worst is realised, perhaps this he down here, with £1,000 he could secure himself a last disappointment may bring about the desired result. permanent home, and probably in a few years have — London and China Express. enough to retire on. Land is cheap at present, but is going up every day, and ere long my land will real­ ROBERT VON GLEHN & SON’S MONTHLY ize 50 per cent more than I gave for it. I have only COFFEE CIRCULAR. £ 1,000 in at present, but directly things are “ fixed L o n d o n , Ju ly 5 th , 1881. up,” I am going to put in another £1,500. During the first two weeks of last month there was Only any fellows thinking of coming down a sudden rush to buy Coffee. In Havre the purchases here should be warned to avoid all land-agents and for the first week exceeded 50,000 bags ; the telegram advertizers, Shearman, Close Bros., and all others. I have from Rio of the 6th June advised purchases for Europe been offered 5 per cent on all lands I can sell for amounting to 107,000 bags ; and at the Dutch Sale on the railway, but have declined, as I have an agent in the loth June the competition for the 92,000 bags London who sends me out fellows to “ learn the ropes” offered was so great, that good ordinary Java sold at who pay me a premium, but if I was in any way 38 cents— cents above valuation, and 15 per cent, connected with the railroad land it would look fishy above the price at the May sale. This was one of those and I can make more the other way. I have two feverish and excited movements to which we are always coming out to me shortly, and the railroad company still exposed when the price of an article is on a really low think they will get over my prejudices and have pre­ level, as is the case with Coffee at present. It may be sented me with a through ticket and I am quite a “ big taken as a sample of how rapid and how important boss ” when clown at St. Paul’s. So I calculate I have will be the advance when something really turns up scored one off the blooming Yankee already. The favourable to the position of the article. We believe society here is very fearful. We have an ancient flame that the rush was greatly stimulated by the fact that who keeps house for us, who is a very nice person— the bulk of the European stocks are held by persons for a Yankee, We also have a farm help, a Norwegian, outside the Coffee trade, and not by the usual middle­ a very decent fellow, but the general ru e are really men of the Coffee trade, who hold little stock, but ghastly. It is common to give “ sociale ” where the are extremely desirous of getting into stock whenever neighbours all congregate and honour you by spitting they think the lowest point reached. tobacco over your carpets and making themselves gener­ The rush to buy was premature, because absolutely ally agreeable. I politely but firmly declined to have without reason, and consequently the advance in price my bouse turned into a pig-sty, and received a lecture has since been lost. from my neighbour, who told me we ought to do The position however, remains the same, a large part our utmost to civilize the people around us. I told of the stocks are held by outsiders, and the instant her I was not a missionary and did not intend to the trade see or think they see a reason for an advance, make a martyr of myself for all the Yankees in crea­ they will make another rush to get into stock at low prices, and they will find the stock very strongly held. Taking the exports for the 5 months from 1st January In the “ pink circular” of 1st July, Messrs. J. 0. to 30th May according to Messrs. Kern Hayn’s & Co. remark that on the strength of the holders of circular of 1st June, 1881, and the exports for June the Havre stock the future course of prices will greatly as per Reuter’s telegrams, we find that the exports depend. As regards the strength of these holders we for the above period have been are in a position to speak with some certainty, and From Rio ...... 119,430 tons we believe it to be undoubted, and that they com­ ,, Santos ... .. 35,294 ,, prise in their number one branch of the biggest bank­ ing firm of the world. Total 154,724 tons A perusal of the following comparative Table of Messrs. H uth’s estimates have therefore been exceeded Prices will, we think, show to how safe a level prices by 50,000 tons. have now fallen - Now this is no trifling mistake especially when we remember that the English tvio firms report that the L o n d o n . quantity of 1880/81 crop now remaining up country', amounts to between 500,000 and 1,000,000 bags. It was therefore possible that high prices in Europe Low Middling Good AveragejGood Channel might have drawn out a further 50,000 tons, and it Plant. Ceylon. Santos Afloat. Rio Cargoes. comes to this, that half way through the crop—that is in January—Messrs. Fred. Huth & Co. did not know s. d. s. d. s. a. s. (1. s. a. s. d. within 100,000 tons what the Brazil crop was. Keep­ 31st Jan. 1880... 97 0 to 98 0 70 0 to 71 0 68 0 to 69 0 ing this fact in mind, we recommend our friends to 38th Feb. 95 0 to 96 0 68 0 to 68 6 08 Oto 68 6 accept with extreme caution all estimates of the Brazil 31st March „ ... 91 0 to 92 0 04 0 to 65 0 62 0 to 63 0 crop 1881/82. 30th April 89 0 to 89 6 61 6 to 62 6 59 6 to 60 G So far the most favourite estimate of this Rio crop is 31st May 86 0 to 60 01) 0 t<*87 00 0 6 59 0 to 0 3J million bags, hut within the last week smaller 30th June 88 0 to 89 0 (12 0 to 62 6 62 0 to 64 0 31st July 87 0 to 88 6 02 0 to t-2 6 61 0 to 62 0 estimates have been received and though great reluctance 31st Aug. 87 6 to 88 0 62 0 to 62 6 G1 0 to 02 r> is shown to adopt them by those who under estimated 30th Sep. 83 0 to 85 0 60 0 to 61 0 57 Ota 59 0 the last crop, we cannot help remarking that advices 31st Oct. 80 0 to 81 0 58 0 to 59 0 55 6 to 56 0 received from reliable Rio firms respecting the smallness 30tlr Nov. 75 0 to 70 0 59 0 to 60 0 53 0 to 55 0 of the beau and the poorness of the new crop, warrant 31st Dee. 75 0 to 77 0 58 0 to 58 6 52 0 to 54 0 the belief that the estimate of 3J million hags will not be reached. New Crop. As regards business in general, both in Europe and 31st Jan. 1881... 82 6 to 85 0 57 0 to 58 0 52 0 to 52 c America, the improved crop prospects have created a 28tli Feb. 0 54 83 0 to 85 0 54 to 6 50 0 to 50 0 more cheerful and hopeful feeling, and business men 31st Mar. 83 Oto 84 0 52 0 to 53 0 47 0 to 49 0 „ ...j look forward to a brisk and prosperous Autumn season. 80th April „ - I 79 0 to 81 0 50 0 to 51 0 46 Oto 48 0 31st. May ..J 78 0 to 80 0 47 0 to 47 0 43 0 to 45 0 For coffee in particular the undercurrent of feeling is 30th J uno „ ...j 83 Oto 85 0 52 6 to 53 6 45 6 to 46 0 full of confidence and hope, even though there is an absence of the exhilarating but delusive boom of the Y ankees. H o l l a n d . I H a m b u r g . N e w Y o b k . R o b e k t V o n G l e i i n & S o n s , 7, Idol Lane, London, B.C. Good ordinaryReal ordinary; Good Rio Para ! Rio. ! Cargoes. Estimated Stocks of Coffee th e chief P o rts of E urope, 1s t Ju ly (in tons.) 31st Jan. 1S80... 1881. 18S0. 28th Feb. „ ... Total July 1 133,400 122,700 31st March „ ... Total June 1 136,245 124,486 30th April ., ... Total May 1 143,190 121,263 31st May ,, ... ,30th June „ ... Stocks of Brazil Coffee in P o rts of United States, 31st July „ ... June 18th. 31st Aug. „ ... 1881. 1880. 30th Sep. „ ... First hands ... 105,120 bags 243 659 bags 31st Oct. „ ... Second hands ... 169,124 ,, 169,039 „ 30th Nov. „ ... 31st Dec. „ ... Total 334,244 412,698 31st Jan. 1881... 28th Feb. ,, ... 31st March ,, ... 30th April „ ... PLANTING IN DELI, SUMATRA. 31st May „ ... May 27th.—Some remarks on Deli, which I see you 30th June „ ... have given some attention to lately, will probably be of interest to your readers. The soil of Deli being of At the commencement of a new Brazil Season when an exceedingly rich kind, e.very tropical produce could the air is rife with rumours about the coming crop, with success be grown ; why, therefore, is the cultvia- it may not be out of place to go back and see what tion limited to tobacco only. The following will was the opinion entertained six months ago of the give some explanations:—The Dutch in annexing crop jnst finished. quietly the East coasts of Sumatra have taken over In their circular of 8th January, Messrs. Fred. only the revenues of the country, leaving the land to Huth & Co. estimated the exports of Brazil from 1st the Sultan and his chiefs; but the Sultan is not January to 30th June, 1881 — allowed to give out contracts as he might like, the From Rio ...... 77.800 tons conditions are prescribed to him by the Dutch Govern­ ,, Santos ...... 25,783 ,, ment. The contract granting the use of the land for a certain number of years requires the Total exports from Brazil for six confirmation of the Resident, as also does the transfer months ending 30th June, 18S1 ... 103,583 tons to another name, therefore the planter cannot freely' dispose of his plantation. By this measure Govern­ the next question is, what will be the future of Deli ? ment can prevent giving out contract or sale of con­ It is pretty soon said ; if the Government does uot tracts to obnoxious people; but at the same time the try to remedy the existing evils, in a few years more Sultan aud his chiefs being left owners of the land, the planters will have to leave a ruined country, being he and his chiefs are responsible for the contract : very likely ruined themselves — L . and C. Express. for any revolts or disturbances that might occur by the natives of the district, &c., &c, The dodge is clear, the Dutch Government have their hand over the CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. country without having either the responsibility or ex­ pense for police. A second reason, is the unsatis­ (From the Pharmaceutical Journal.) factory relations between employer and labourer. By the courtesy of Dr. Trimen, who about eighteen As Mr. Cramer writes in his brochure, the planter months since succeeded Dr. Thwaites in the charge •does not require any especial protection, but let of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Ceylon, we have planter and workman have equal law. Entering a con­ been furnished with a copy of his report for the year tract, the planter on one side advances the work man 1880. This memorandum shows many indications of a certain amount of money, and gives certain pro­ the energy of the new' Director, and contains much mises. The coolie, on the other side, promises to do information respecting experiments mane in the cul­ a certain amount of work. Now the planter is sure tivation of various economic plants. But the portion to be made to adhere to the contract; but the most interesting to readers of this Journal is that coolie, if he likes to desert from the estate, and which relates to the cultivation of cinchona, and from by so doing break his contract, gets for desertion which therefore a few defails may be selected. one to three months’ imprisonment; that does not During the year 1880, the cultivation of cinchona do him a great harm, as he remains in prison only in Ceylon underwent a development unparallelled in any as long as it suits him. But suppose the coolie is previous year, and it has now become general on all good enough to wait in prison until his time of estates in suitable situations. The species principally punishment expires, he cannot be forced to adhere grown are C, officinalis and C. succirubra, and of these to his part of the contract. The planter can lodge many planters have now extensive nurseries, so that a civil complaint against the coolie for debt, but the demand at the Royal gardens for seed has almost what one can get out of a coolie is soon told ; the ceased, and it is not thought necessary f>-r the Govern­ planter not only loses hU money, but also the work. ment to continue longer the propagation of those species Speaking of the prison, I may just mention what to any great extent. At elevations above 4,510 a Deli friend gave me as a fact. In the course of the feet, the climate is found to be very suitable to C. last twelve months twenty of his coolies were im­ officinalis, but lower down the other species do better. prisoned. Out of the twenty only two men returned to The C. officinalis exhibits considerable variation in the the plantation on the expiration of their terms, the form of the leaf, which ranges from narrow lanceolate others having either escaped from, or died in prison, to broad oval. A quick-growing broad-leaved form, causing to the estate a dead loss of $900. much in favour in Ceylon and incorrectly called C. Con- Recently a new law has come out, trying to im­ daminea, is thought to be possibly the result of cross­ prove the relations between planter and coolie. The ing w ith C. succirvbra. A sample of the bark of the intention of the legislator is good, but the law being narrowest-leaved variety {C. crispa) has been submit­ nly partly applied, in default of a sufficient staff to ted for examination to Mr. J. E. Howard, F. R. S., who work it, it has turned out only another vexation to has reported that it corresponded to the bark for­ the planter, and a new lax of ff. 1 per coolie a year. merly known as “ crespilla bark ” (the Quina fina Moreover, the native population not living under Dutch de Loja), and that it contained 5*2 per cent, of total rule, an efficacious execution of the law will depend alkaloids, of whiclj 4'1 percent, was quinine, or equal greatly on the goodwill of the Sultan and liis chiefs. to 5*45 per cent, of quinine sulphate. Some of this enother want badly felt is that of good roads to bark, obtained by coppicing, was in February last sold op n a country ; to secure a high lasting cultivation iu Mincing Lane at 7s. 6d. per lb. good roads are of first necessity. But up to to-day Of the still more valuable C. Ledgeriana there were there is in the whole of Deli not one single road made only about 3,000 plants in the Government garden at by Government. To bring a little heavy machinery Hakgala, most of them raised from seed obtained from up* country would be perfectly impossible during nine Java in 1878. Only about 1,250 plants have there­ months of the year, a good shower rendering the fore been distributed, but there is reason to believe roads impracticable. A sugar, tapioca, or other estate that many planters are in possession of plants raised producing articles that cannot stand much transport from seed obtained by themselves from Java. The expenses would certainly come to grief, only on important observation has also been made that although account of the roads ; the roads being bad the carts C. Ledgeriana is difficult to propagate by cuttings it cannot be properly loaded, and wear and tear on may readily be grafted on C. succirulyra. cattle carts would rise up to the end of a season to A note of warning is raised as to the clanger of a ruinous amount. allowing opportunities for hybridization, such as have Another great drawback is the costly labour, the no doubt injuriously affected many cinchona cultiva­ Government not having succeeded or tried to get the tion experiments. It is urged that if any of the in­ permission of free emigration to Deli, either from ferior kinds of cinchona are growing in the neighbour­ Madras or China, the planter has to pay high advances hood of the C. Ledgeriana trees they should be at once and commissions for procuring labourers. With a destroyed. Further, it is recommended that the bark little goodwill and persverance the Government might from selected trees should be analysed by a compet­ yet succeed in getting permission of free emigration ent chemist, and the results compared with the charac­ from the above-named countries, and would by that con­ ters of the trees, and that only those varieties yielding fer a boon upon all concerned in the country. a good bark analysis should be preserved as seed trees At present the country yields to Government a net and all others ruthlessly exterminated. profit of about fl.500,000 against which nothing has A few plants of C. officinalis, var. pubescens, a fast- been done yet for the benefit of the country, and very growing variety, which some time since was spoken likely nothing will be done until it is too late. The of very favourably by Dr. de Vrij and Mr. J, E. tobacco plantations have land left to plant only for a Howard (see Pharm. Journ.y vol. viii (1871), p.p. 805 few years more. Planting for a second time on the and 825), have survived the journey from the Nilgiria., same land does not pay, trials made with tobacco and are doing well. They are, however, reported as south and north of Deli have turned out failures. So having at present much the appearance of C. succirubra. 65 C e y l o n T e a i n A u s t r a l ia . —An ex-Ceylon planter S o c o tr a ,—Dr. Schweinfurtli writes from Aden :— who has established a Tea-retail Store in Melbourne, “ Just back, after an absence of three months, of making up packets in a neat fashion at 2s., 2s. 6d., which two were spent on the sea. The island (Sokotra) and 3s. per lb., has sent out a number of travelling is wondrously beautiful, relatively cool, healthy, Agents to sell in the country at a profitable com­ and the inhabitants are patterns of harmlessness. mission. In this way, Ceylon tea mu*t rapidly make I had to gather up all I could find day or night, so its way and Melbourne merchants say that our tea as not to be behind Balfour, who had sent me his in time, will be largely used in the .Colonies. catalogue. Very much satisfied with my booty. Did W e s t I n d ia n P i n e -a p p l e s .—T he Grocer says that the no cartographic work. A regular survey of the island first cargo of new season’s pineapples from Antigua is, however, much wanted, for the existing maps leave arrived in London yesterday week. The first portion much to be desired.”— London Athenaeum. of the cargo was immediately placed on the market, and was readily sold at full prices, a few fetching as J a l a p T u b e r s . —In a letter dated the 8th ultimo, much as 21s. to 26a. per dozen. Some of the pines the Acting Commissioner of the Nilgiris, requested were bought for export to France the same day. The the sanction of Government to sell the jalap tubers pines generally were in fairly good condition, though grown at Oot.icamund at a moderate price, to be rather green. determined in communication with the Superintendent C in c h o n a P l a n t e r s ’ M a n u a l . —W e have to acknow­ of the Gardens. “ There is a large demand for the,plant ledge with thanks a copy of Mr. Owen’s Cinchona and up to the end of March last 4,201 tubers were Manual published at the Observer Office for the use supplied to applicants from various parts. In one of planters. It is not in our power to do more than case Mr, Jamieson inadvertently charged for 1.000 own receipt of it in our present issue, but we shall tubers at R 5 per 100, and received the amount take an early opportunity of giving the work a notice R. 50. It is impossible to meet the large demand out such as its contents appear to deserve.. As a Manual of the very limited cultivation of jalap now carried it deals entirely in the propagation, cultivation and on in the Gardens, ' while to extend it for gratuitous harvesting of Cinchona, and this in a very full and supply would partly absorb the small revenue derived exhaustive manner.—0. Times. from other sources.” The Government have approved C r o p s i n K e l e b o k k a , 29th July.—You have evid­ of the sale of the tubers at a very moderate price.— ently misunderstood what I said the other day. Madras Mail. I did not say that the district in 1879-80 and 1880-81 B o n e -d u s t M a n u r e . —The Officiating Secretary to gave an average of 2J cwt. per acre, but that many of the estates in it have done so. This year many places the Government of India in a letter to the Secret­ have 4 cwt. an acre on them. I enclose you a memo ary to the Government M. W. says in re­ of the crops on this estate for the past 10 years, spect to bone manure :—“Mr. Fuller is of opinion which gives an average of 4 cwt. per acre for that that bone-manure could only come into any general od :— Crops on ------use in Indian cultivation in the form of bone-dust, 1871-72 560 cwt. 1876-77 2, 120* untreated with sulphuric acid, as the cost of con­ 1872-73 1,690 1877-78 450 verting it into superphosphate of lime would bo pro­ 1873-74 690 1878-79 1,550 hibitive to the ordinary cultivator. lie adds that 1S74-75 1,560 1879-80 355 the solubility of the bone-dust is much less than 1875-76 850 1880-81 040 that of the superphosphate s.ml hence that the full » effect of its use would not be known till the second 5,350 cwt. 5,115 ' year after its application. No doubt he will note Average of 5 years 1,070 cwt. ; next 5 years 1,023 the character of the next crop which is taken off cwt. 2b0 acres coifce. Weather continues very dry the plot experimented upon.—Madras Standard. and leaf disease, I am sorry to say, is rather bad. M u s h r o o m s . —While agriculture, as at present ex­ T h e C i n c h o n a P l a n t e r ’s M a n u a l .—The local ercised in England, is threatened with ruin from Messenger of August 2 has an appreciative notice of American rivalry, and hard-headed farmers are being this work, fr-m which we quote the following:— assured they must take to growing strawberries in “ Mr. T. O. Owen is already favourably known to the summer and cabbages in winter, it is consolatory to public in connection with coffee planting literature, find that something may be made of mushrooms. and he has now prepared a book of 218 pages on Strawberries would scarcely find consumers if exten­ cinchona cultivation which, it is no flattery to say, is a sively grown, even _ though produced at a penny a work of high scientific merit. The book se ms to be pound. At all events, they should be left to gen­ exhaustive of all that is at present known on the tlemen farmers, since they would scarcely answer for subject of cinchona, as Laborie’s work was of all that rough cattle-feeding. With cabbages it might be was knO'vn of coffee cultivation in his time, and we do otherwise: nor could even that culture be looked not think there is any exaggeration in saying that down upon. Diocletian declared plaintively that if Mr. Owen’s book will have the same relation to all his friends could only see the charming cabbages future treatises on cinchona cultivation that Laborie’s he had planted at Salona, they would never advise has had to all subsequent manuals of cofiee planting. him to quit his retreat for the imperial dignity. But Cinchona is, however, a much more scientific subject of the respectability of mushrooms there can be no than coffee, and requires a man of more scientific question. Unfortunately, however, if English agricul­ knowledge to write a book on it than coffee does. . . . turists took largely to their production, American The boo'x is neatly bound aud printed, the paper of rivalry is here again likely to he an obstacle to profit. good quality, and the whole is very creditable to the We learn that the immense Mammoth caves of Ken­ Observer press. The only typograpical error we have tucky are being now utilized for this Cryptogamic noticed is in the following passage on page 54:—‘Java, and savoury plant. A Frenchman originated the which is situated as many degrees south of the line happy idea, and h s been granted the privilege of as Ceylon is north, has at 500 feet a temperature of trying the experiment in one of the passages of the 63° Fuhr., &c.’ Here 500 must be a misprint for Cave, a mile and a half in length, which heretofore was 5000, but we know from experience how liable mis­ remarkable for little save the vast flights of bats takes are to occur in the printing of numerals, so that is provoked by the steps of human visitors. Deposits a very excusable fault.” of guano have existed in the avenue for ages, and it is believed that the finest mushrooms in the world # Besides about 60 cwk sold of inferior coffee. will be produced there.—Pioneer. C in c h o n a . — A planter writes :— “ At first glance, of three one-seeded opening pieces, and is girded at Owen’s book seems just the thing I have long wanted the base by an enlarged bract. S. sebifera the Tallow- and could not get. It gives descriptions of the many tree, is a native of China and the adjacent islands, varieties which will be some guide, though not so but it has been introduced into and partly naturalised good as an actual inspection of specimens would be. in India and the warm parts of America. It has rhomb­ Can these be found at Peradeniya or elsewhere ? I oid-shaped sharply taper-pointed leaves about two mean, of course, all varieties named.” [We trust inches broad, on slender stalks with two prominent one of the first improvements at the Hakgala Gardens glands at the point of attachment between the stalk will be to provide specimens of every known variety and leaf ; and its flower-catkins are from two to four of cinchona for the purpose of aiding planters in inches long. Its fruits are about half an inch in dia­ identifying, apart from other uses.—En.] meter and contain three seeds thickly coated with a S p o n g e C u l t u r e . —There is every reason to be­ fatty substance which yields the tallow. This is ob­ lieve that the newly developed art of sponge-culture tained by steaming the seeds in large cauldrons then will settle down into a profitable industry. The brushing them sufficiently to loosen the fact without process employed is an extremely simple one. A living breakiflg ‘ seeds, which are removed by sifting - and sponge is cut into small-sized pieces, and each portion the fat is afterwards made into flat circular cakes and is fastened by a small stake to the sea bottom. These pressed in a wedgepress, when the pure tallow exudes detached sponges at once begin to grow, and in a in a liquid state, and soon hardens into a white brittle period varying, according to different authorities from mass. This tallow is very extensively used for candle- three to seven years, are large enough for the market. making in China ; but as they get soft in hot weather Professor Oscar Schmidt has succeeded so well with the candles generally receive a coating of insect-wax. experimental culture conducted in this way that he A liquid oil is obtained from the seeds by pressing. has been commissioned by the Austrian Government The tree yields a hard wood, used by the Chinese for to continue the work on a larger scale on the Coast printing blocks, and its leaves are employed for dye­ of Dalmatia. Full information relating to this interest­ ing black.” ing subject will be found in the report of Professor P l a n t in g N o t e s .—The contrast between coffee pro­ Baird, the Fish Commissioner to the United States, perties cared for and cultivated and others neglected:— and also in a report recently prepared by Prof ssor Ray You will not be surprised that nothing has yet, virtu­ Lankester at the request of- the Secretary of State for the ally, been done for ------. It is now a waste of Colonies. —Graphic. weeds, and is a standing proof of what can be done D e e r , C in c h o n a a n d F e n c e s . —Complaints are fre­ by good cultivation, and what an estate suffers from quent of the ravages of Sambur among young cinchonas. the want of it. This place and it lie alongside, and the In a week one planter informed us that he had a thirty- contrast, to a spectator, from the opposite side of the acre field of flourishing plants eaten down to a dis­ ravine, is most striking. One side of the boundary heartening extent. Indeed, as he could not afford the line, the colour is a beautiful dark healthy green ; on necessary appliances for an efficient fence, and did the other a most sickly mixture of pale green and not possess on his own ground the material to cheapen yellow. Then go into the coffee, and t h e ------trees the erection of a wire fence, he thought of abandoning are covered with l6af disease, and are succumbing to the cultivation. If anybody wishes to inspect a work it, but those on this place, not excepted from the of magnitude in this way, he has but to go over to pest, seem very little put about by it, and if they Deva Shola and see what has been done in enclosing should begin to give, I can manure them at once I note a thousand acres of cinchona. The proprietor is wisely your leading article and your Great Western correspond­ planting blue-gum just out-ide the fence, the plants ent’s remarks. He and 1 differ on one point, viz., pruning. being put down about a foot apart. The rapidity of He thinks I ruin my trees by “ slashing” them, as the growth of the blue-gum which in this locality your correspondent on pruning the other day would attains a ■ height of five or six feet in a year, makes call it (very sensible letter that). But I would go it quite reasonable to expect that before the decay further in pruning than even he. Last year when of the posts I hat now hold the wires, a fine and im­ pruning a piece ot this place which had always lots penetrable natural hedge of blue-gum will have grown of wood but no crop, ------passed through and tol dine up, which with the wire transferred to live supports what a mistake I was making. That very piece has this will completely frustrate all the efforts of the enemy year a heavy crop ! In some places, I would have bigger to get unto the cinchona. In connection with the crops if I pruned less. But put two crops of a well subject, yve have heard it suggested that all the ex­ pruned estate against two of another badly pruned, pense of wire fencing might be saved, if cinchona and the former is sure to have the advantage in growers would take to keeping a few dogs of a proper quantity and the better quality of coffee, which causes breed, namely, a cross between a fox bound and a a great difference in the proceeds of the sales in grey hound. A gentleman at Kodauaad has a few London. Thus, an estate which nets 90/ per cwt. and dogs of this breed, and neighbours complain that the has only 780 cwt., is as good as—aye better than—one dogs so thoroughly hunt the sambur, that a shot within that has 1,000 cwt. and only nets 70/ per cwt. ; fer­ miles of their es’ates cannot be had of these animals. tile expenses are less. If ever I see the — ques-. We have ourselves known an ordinary pariah dog tion settled, I shall try to give you an outline of it, for trained by a Native Shikaree seize the leg of a sam­ it touches the interests of all interested i n coffee, and bur, but the dog was too slight to make any im­ our members in Council should be pressed to take notice pression on the movements of the sambur, and was of it, for there is much wanting in the law relating to shaken of.—South of India Observer. mortgages, when the mortgagee may have to wait till T h e T a l l o w T r e e . — A planter writes :— “ Can you the estate has literally returned to jungle, before he can give me any information about the Chiuese tallow-tree : take possession of the property which he accepted as i. e. its value or the price the seeds fetch in the home security for the money he lent upon i t ! That is good market ?” From the Treasury of Botany we take : — news for some people that Government will reserve “ Stillingia.—The Tallow-tree of China is the best- all forest above 5,000 elevation :—you should see known representative of this genus of Euphorbiacceae; cinchona at 0,000 feet and over. but there are two or three other Chinese and Japanese Rainfall this July— 3'82 species, and as many more natives of the Southern 1880 „ —14-39 States of America. With the exception of the tallow- 1879 „ —15-12 tree and one herbaceous species, they are shrub s; and 1878 ,, —16-38 all have alternate entire leaves, and terminal catkin­ While I write it is hotter than ever, ;Woa to the like spikes of flowers. The fruit is a capsule composed coffee tress that have too much crop! SPRING VALLEY COFFEE COMPANY, LTD. UVA COFFEE COMPANY, LIMITED. The Directors have pleasure in presenting their an­ Presented herewith is a statement of the Company’s nual statement of accounts, with the completed returns Accounts, including the closed return of crop 1879-80. of crop 1879-80. The sales in London comprised 9,837 cwt. of coffee, and the net profit realised, after payment of all charges It will be seen that the total sum realized from for the year in Ceylon and London has been £15,334 sales of coffee, with the proceeds of a small shipment Is., a result which cannot be considered other than of cinchona bark, was £31,823 8s 8d, and that after highly satisfactory. charging the entire expenditure in Ceylon and London The balance unappropriated last year was £1,750 for the 12 months, a profit has been obtained of £10,199 15s., so that the total revenue now to be dealt with 7s 3d or 12£ per cent on the capital of the Company. is £17,084 16s. This, in these days of leaf disease and small crops, must In January last a dividend was paid of 8s. per be looked upon as a highly satisfactory result. share, aud it is now proposed to divide an equal With the balance carried forward last year of amount for the sec md half year, making 8 per cent, £1,243 17s 4d, there appears a total revenue of for the year, payable as usual free of income tax. £11,443 4s 7d, out of which an interim dividend has From the balance remaining the Directors recommend been paid of 4 per cent, or £3,200. It is now recom­ that £1,000 be added to the Working Expense Fund, mended that a further dividend be paid of 4 per cent, and that £8,084 16s. lie held in reserve. making 8 per cent for the year, or £6.400 free of The crop of 1880-81, which is now in course of income tax ; and from the balance remaining, the shipment, is to be smaller even than was thought Directors propose that £3,498 8s (id, be employed in probable when the Circular of January last was issued: writing down the cost of the estates to the level of hence the necessity for carrying forward so large a Share Capital £80,000. leaving a balance of revenue balance from the previous year’s revenue. It is not unappropriated of £1544 16s Id. likely that shipments will aggregate more than 4.000 cw t. of coffee, but the returns will be supplemented It may, perhaps, be as well to remind you at this by the proceeds of a considerable quantity of bark point that the total sum applied from the revenues peeled from the cinchona trees first planted on some of the Company in payment for extensions and im­ of the properties, and now brought to market. provements other than the ordinary costs of cultiva­ The prime cause of so great a reduction in the tion has been no less than £27; 119 os 5d ; and that quantity of crop secured has been no doubt the the area under coffee will now stand, in the books failure of blossoms, through prolonged drought; but it at a cost of less than £52 per acre, leaving out of account is none the less disheartening to confess that the forest, grass land, and fields planted with cinchona. hope expressed in last year’s report on the subject It is hoped that during the next few years, surplus of the leaf disease has been ruthlessly upset by one of profits may be availed of to make considerable addi­ the smartest attacks of the pest yet experienced in tions to the Reserve Fund, and so your Company will Uva. And so long as the estates are subject to hold a position second certainly to none connected these periodical visitations, it is no easy matter to with the island of Ceylon. calculate on results from even the most carefully At the time of paying the interim dividend in liberal cultivation. January, it was hoped that the crop, now being It is, however, satisfactory to be assured, as the gathered on Spring Valley, would be not less than Directors are, by those in charge of the properties, that of 1879-80; but the autumn blossom upon the that the trees are in a promising condition for yield­ lower and older fields failed in a large measure in ing remunerative crops, in 1*81-82. And they con­ consequence of the dry season, and the outturn of the sider that their proposal to equalise dividends by re­ two properties will probably not exceed 6,700 cwt. serving the excess obtained in a prosperous year is Spring Valley is reported to be in most respects one which should commend itself to shareholders. in a satisfactory condition, though leaf disease has Expenditure during the current year has been, as again ravaged parts of the estate and affected the much as possible kept within the value of the crop production of crop materially. Energetic measures are expected to be picked ; but the importance of extend­ taken, and appliances are being brought to bear to ing the application of fertilising agents has not been increase the manured area year by year, but, unfor­ lost sight of, and at the present time appliances are tunately the cost of those portable artificial manures, in course of being perfected, by means of which large which by careful application would immensely benefit deposits of manure removed from the town of Badulla the property, is almost prohibitory so long as cart to a central depot are to be distributed over three transport only is available; and it is with much re­ of your estates. A considerable area of grass land gret that the Directors have to announce that the adjoining Ballagalla is also by this means to be cul- authorities at the Colonial Office are, with all the ti vated in coffee. information at their disposal, not alive to the fact Twenty-five acres of forest lately cleared adjoining that the revenues of the Colony, which are said to Glen Alpin estate are this season to be planted, with be falling off, would, no less than the interests of all cinchona, for which an abundant supply of fine plants connected with the Island, be better served by an is available. extension to Uva or Haputale of the line now in On Rockhill and Ballagalla, it is thought that cocoa course of construction, than by any proposition which can be cultivated successfully, and nurseries have ac­ has been before them for many years. cordingly been prepared. Not only do they decline to entertain this exten­ The Directors cannot close their report without ex­ sion, which would cost but £600,000, and be immedi­ pressing the disappointment which they in common ately a handsome source of revenue, but they refuse with others have felt on reading the despatch lately to allow it to be constructed by private enterprise, sent by Lord Kimberley to the Ceylon Government which would be at once forthcoming. on the subject of the railway. The Secretary of State The extension of Cinchona planting on Spring Valley, does not see his way to meet the demand for railway and of Cocoa and other products on Oolanakande, extension from Nanuoya to Haputale, and it appears has been actively prosecuted during the year, and doubtful whether the line already sanctioned and now thus returns for the future, independently of coffee, in course of construction to the former point, wiil are being secured without outlay of capital. prove remunerative. If prices be maintained, there seems no reason to Proofs are not wanting that only by tapping the rich look for other than good and substantial returns from and fertile of Uva, Haputale, and Madulsima, your property in years to come. can traffic be expected in quantity on the line now beinv marie, and looking to the readiness with which BENGAL CINCHONA PLANTATIONS :. private enterprise would, if permitted, undertake the construction of the extension so urgently needed, LARGE NUMBER OF VERITABLE LEDGERIANAS IN THE and which would so certainly conduce to the welfare SIKIIIM GARDENS. of the entire Colony, it is much to be regretted that The most important statement in Dr. King’s Report those who are in power are not endowed with a for the year ending 31st March last, which has duly clearer perception of the financial resources at their reached us with all connected documents, is un­ disposal. doubtedly that in which he confirms the belief that a large number of calieaya trees iu Sikhim are veritable TEA. Ledgerianas. “ During the year,” he adds, “ 99,415 A u s t r a l ia n T e a S e a s o n , 1881-18S2.—11 Little Col­ plants of that variety of calisaya were added to the lins Street West, Melbourne, 1st July, 1881. Messrs. permanent plantation,” and we read elsewhere that Jas. Henty & Co.. report as follows:—By the Steamer as much as 113,269 was realized through the sale of “ Killarney,” from Foo-Chow, we have full supplies of Ledgeriana seed aud plants chiefly to Ceylon planters. Ifew Season’s Teas, of finest quality, consisting of Paklums, Soomoos. and Sueykuts, in lialf-chests and But when we remember how freely calisaya seed from boxes, also some Kaisow Buds in quarter-chests and Sikhim was obtained from Dr. King some years ago boxes. These are all line Teas and carefully selected. for Ceylon, our belief is strengthened that as Dr. The Steamer “ Hungarian,” advised as having left Trimen has found one and another of the Emelina Foo-Chow on the 28th ultimo, brings us further supplies and Annfield trees turning out to be pure Ledgeriana, and a full assortment of Tea, We also have advices of full supplies of India Teas, being shipped to us, so it may be found that a considerable number of consisting of Assam, Cacliar, Darjeeling, Kangra Val­ the trees there, and on other estates raised from ley, Sylhet, Dooars. &c., and our letters inform us that their seed, or from seed got some time ago from the quality of the New Indian Crop is unusually fine. Calcutta, may prove to be of the variety which is Musters of the “ Killarney’s” shipment are now on surpassingly rich in quinine. It is quite evident at view a t our Office. least that Dr. King and Mr. Gammie are determined not to be behind Mr. Moens in their propagation and

“ T h e T r o p ic a l A griculturist . ’’—A planting cultivation of this species, and if success attend their correspondent writes :—“ It would surely not be efforts in Northern India, how much more may we much additional trouble to you to group all expect to see the Ledgeriana enterprise flourish in the letters Referring to each separate cultivation in each genial climate of our Central Province. The total number of the Tropical Agriculturist. As at present number of calisaya trees now in the Sikhim plantations published, one has to search each number for what one is 412,000, but there is a nursery stock of an equal wants.” [We have already announced that grouping number ready to plant out, Mr. Gammie and his is be adopted, so soon as we get out new' type. The assistants have been busy uprooting all the bad kinds arrangement entails more trouble and expense than in the permanent plantation, Mr. Wood’s analysis outsiders can understand, as it prevents the use of having enabled them to distinguish the Ledgerianas the same type over again so often as is usual.—Ed.] by their leaves. Of inferior and doubtful sorts of I s th e Tropical Agriculturist a separate paper, or calisaya which were uprooted, the crop has made up must each communication first pass the ordeal of the no less than 81,225 of yellow against 296,000 of red Ceylon Observer or other papers ? I ask, for some bark harvested during the year, and this policy of men might only be able to afford the former paper, uprooting inferior calisayas is to be continued until and it might be some time before you reprinted the the yellow bark plantation is one of pure Ledgeriana. reply to a letter to the Observer, while, if written At the same time that the inferior yellow bark was direct to the Tropical Agricu tuirst, the answer should sent to the English market—being the first consignment be available in the following issue. [Whatever ap­ of this kind from India—Dr. King included a pears in the Observer bearing on tropical agriculture small quantity of really good Ledgeriana bark so as will be republished in the monthly, but the latter will also contain a good deal that may be considered to get some idea of its commercial value. The result too long, dry and technical for a daily paper. At was most satisfactory : 625 lb. fetching at auction 10s the same time, we do not mean to make the T . A . lOd per lb. Of the inferior Calisaya, one lot of a rival to the daily, or to encourage correspondence 2,655 lb. sold for 7s 6d, and others brought from to the former only. We shall always try to give 5s Id to 2s 9d per lb. There is, however, no in­ both enquiry and reply published in successive num­ tention of continuing to sell bark from Northern India : ber of the Observer in one and the same monthly is-ue of the Tropical Agriculturist. What may be all the crop is to be retained and used for the pro­ exelud-d from the Observer will be long Government duction of febrifuge or of quinine for the use of the reports, or essays from Agricultural Journals published people of India. The febrifuge is made from red bark, in India, Europe or America, from such publications as of which there are now over four millions of trees The Field, Gardener's Chronicle, Grocer, Pharma­ on the two plantations—Mungpoo and Sittong—and ceutical Journal, American Agriculturist, and French and German periodicals. This will, we suppose, these are capable of producing a much larger quantity save the necessity of planters and others looking up such of this preparation, than has been issued so far, the puklica’ions f. r themselves, as they may bo sure demand in 1879-80 having been 8,164 lb. There is that nothing of any importance will be left out of still however a prejudice again-t the cheaper febrifuge the Tropical Agriculturist,. Notice of anything in some quarters, and accordingly a good deal of quinine really useful' will, as usual, be taken in the Observer. But. to bring our monthly up to the proper standard is henceforward to he locally manufactured and supplied- will require a little time : “ Borne was not built in The total saving to the Indian Government so far a dav.”—Ed.] through the local manufacture of the febrifuge is C6‘ estimated at 16J lakhs of rupees: the saving last year test this, I intend to have some analyses made of alone being equal to half the total expenditure bn samples of renewed bark and the results of these tne plantations including compound interest at four analyses I hope to give in my next annual report. “ The Dutch plan of grafting Ledgeriana on sued' per cent! Regarding Mr. Gammie’s experiments so rubra stocks has also been tried during the year, often referred to in our columns, we read :— but I regret to say with little success. The ex­ “ Not only has Mr. Gammie conducted the routine periment will, however, be pereserved in. I11 the of febrifuge manufacture with precision and skill, matter of propagation of Ledgeriana we are now but he has spent much time on attempts to increase very well oil; for the bad varities of Calisaya, having the percentage of it extracted front the hark. These been nearly all uprooted from the plantation, the attempts, I am glad to say, promise to end in success. seed yielded is now much more reliable than it has Mr. Gammie has also succeeded in turning out a been heretofore. Our stock plants are, moreover, crystalline preparation of the febrifuge which, being now in fairly good condition, and yield a consider­ free fr-'m the amorphous alkaloid, may prove pleas­ able number of cuttings.” anter nvdieine than the febrifuge in its pre-cnt form, Again, regarding the cultivation of Ledgeriana, we Mr. Gammie’s crystalline febrifuge is a very pretty read :— preparation, being nearly as white as quinine itself. It is now under trial in various Government hos­ “ Contrary to all expectation, Ledgeriana and our pitals, and if it is reported well of, arrangements quinine-producing hybrid are found to thrive better can be made for its production on a large svale. Mr. 011 land with a southern exposure than on land Gammie has continued to direct his attention to the that slopes to the north. Mr. Gammie has there­ economical manufacture of sulphate of quinine. Decided fore prepared for planting a considerable area of progress has been made in this matter since last land which had hitherto been regarded as unsuit­ year, but further experiments will be necessary before able for any kind of cinchona. In planting Ledgeri­ 1 can advantageously submit a full report on the ana last year, Mr. Gammie took the precaution of re su lts.” putting two plants to each stake, with the view of cutting the second of them out. should it turn out J)r. King does nob afford much information this to be of a bad sort, or of transplanting one, should tim? us to the average yield of bark, but he mentions both plants turn out true Ijedgeriana. The majori- that the crop of red bark harvested was got hy up- j ty of these recently put out plants are. however, noting the tre s (11 years old) over 75 acres, the j turning out pure L edgeriana; there will, therefore, | be a considerable number of transplants available result being an outturn of 1,510 lb. of dry bark per i from this source during the approaching planting acre. This result is a very poor one, since 2 or 3 1 season.” lb, of dry bark per tree has been a common experience It will be seen, from the foregoing summarj, that in Southern India and Ceylon from trees of less age ; Dr. King’s Report on the present occasion is both but Dr. King confesses that his patch was not a good interesting and instructive. We shall publish it in one, and we suppose there were many blanks. A full, with the appended papers, in the T ropical new unnamed variety—a hybrid yellow bark tree—of Agriculturist where it will be available for ready which there are *200,000 trees on the plantations is reference to all engaged in cinchona cultivation. referred to. The bark has been found to be rich in quinine, but Dr. King does not give analyses nor PROSPECTING FOR GOLD.

inform us who: her its growth or suitableness for (Summary of H in t s from a Colombo Agent to climate and soil is more marked than that of Ledg­ an Estate Manager instructed to prospect.) eriana. Respecting the Cartliagena bark trees recently Samples to be not less than 14 lb. of quartz from imported, Dr. King reports a hard struggle in pro­ each reef, or supposed reef, to he packed separately pagating, the original 6 plants having only increased in small gunny bags made for the purpose and num­ bered. Unlikely looking quartz to the eye has some­ to 60 rooted and 90 partially rooted cutting at the times proved richer than others apparently of A-l end of the year. Every effort will be made to increase quality ; for instance, stone with five to six ounces the stock of this interesting species which yields the of gold to the ton does not always shew any signs Columbian bark of commerce. to the eye ! "White sugary crystallized quartz is no good : it must have some colour in it—look metally In regard to Mr. Moens’ method of shaving the in fact—quartz with a red or yellow tinge is pre- bark and grafting the Ledgeriana on suceirubra erable to a perfectly white quartz, although the stocks, the following has been the Sikhim experi­ latter may be valuable if interspersed with colour. ence:— Reefs which are likely to prove valuable are those “ The method cousists in shaving off the greater which in a seeming upheaval stand up abruptly, part of the bark of a living tree to the height of leaving solid walls distant from each obiter from one from eight to ten feet from the ground, care being to three feet, having between these walls a forma­ taken to leave everywhere a sufficiently thick layer tion of loose crumbly quartz of a good metally of bark to cover the wood. This method has now colour. When such reef is found to dig had more than a year’s trial on the Sikhim Planta­ away the earth at the sides, say 6 or 7 feet tion, a certain number of trees per month having down, so as to get some distance below the quartz been shaved since the beginning of the year 1880. as it lies in its probably undisturbed state, and then The results have been favourable. Every month’s to take samples. Such reefs as these generally de­ trees have renewed their bark well, those shaved scend for hundreds of feet, the quartz being loose during April having done so (Yr. Gammie tells me) and crumbly—if tapped at some distance down the hill­ rather better than any of the rest. The bark of the side, the quartz is easily secured, as it drops with trees earliest shavtd is now about as thick as was very little effort from the reefs, and the rocky walls the original bark, and it is clean, healthy and uni­ on either side hold it well together until removed. form. There is no doubt, therefore, that under this plan bark renews perfectly. What now remains to (From our pamphlet “ A ll about Gold, Gems, and be seen is whether the renewed bark is equally rich j Pearls in Ceylon.”) in medicinal alkaloids with the original. In order to | A bottle of nitric acid is a sure test. If the minera found be gold, it will not touch it; if a baser which by tradition and in consequence of their cheap­ metal, with the exception of one or two not commonly ness hold, or have until lately held, possession of found in Australia, violent action takes place and the Australian markets, are either adulterated, ex­ gaseous fumes arise. By this means spurious gold hausted, or inferior in all the qualities which con­ dust may be detected : if it be pure, no action what­ stitute good tea. Mr. Moody, in pursuance of his ever will t»ke place, and the liquor will not be dis­ determined efforts to give Indian and Ceylon teas coloured ; if impure, violent action will take place, their proper position here, is preparing a pamphlet, red vapour will arise, and the acid will be discoloured. "of which 5,000 copies at least are to be circulated. The weight of a lump of quartz as estimated by In this brochure, of which 1 have seen the first por­ poising it in the hand is generally sufficient to determ­ tion, the history of the Syndicate movement, the ine whether it contain gold or not, quartz having a results of the Exhibition, of ordinary tasting and scienti­ specific gravity of about 2b, whilst the specific gravi'y fic analyses, will be summed up. Slowly, it may be, at of gold is from IS to 19. This accounts for gold being first but in the end surely and completely, the found in grains and nuggets—the water having had pure, genuine teas of India and Ceylon will supersede sufficient power ■ to break up and wash away the the adulterated, exhausted and worthless stuff so largely lighter rock, hut not the gold itself. Hence it may entering into the shipments which are now, by their be inferred that when large lumps of gold are found, arrival as “ First of the Season’s Teas,” creating such the matrix itself cannot be far off—from the im­ excitement amongst “ the trade” here. Sales of con­ possibility of the current washing these to any great siderably over 20,000 packages take place to-day. distance. On the other hand if the gold be in dust or scales, ic may be, and is frequently distributed over a large space of ground. Do B a t s e a t B e e t l e s ?—Mr. Haldano in his Essay The unpractised miner is apt to take several sub­ on “ Grub” (shortly to tee the light) raises this stances for gold which have no alliance with that question. An authority answers it in the affirmative, metal. The first of these is yellow mica : this may, as follows :—“ Bats do eat beetles. I have often found however, be readily distinguished by its lightness. in the early morning large quantities of the elytra The next is iron pyrites. This is as easily distinguished. of beetles under the verandah of our house, punc­ Stick the point of a penknife into a scale of gold, tured by bats’ teeth. The bats suspend themselves and it will penetrate it, but the pyrites would be on a bell-wire after capturing the beetles, and devour found too hard for this, Place a little of the substance them at their leisure.” Planters must therefore look on a shovel, and put it on the fire. If it be pyrites, upou bats as their friends and allies Yin the destruc­ a strong smell of sulphur will be perceived, and the tion of coclichafers. residuum after the sulphur is driven off will become red iron rust. Dissolve the mineral in muriatic acid, C a w n p o r e E xperimental F a r m . —The Government and add a few drops of nitric acid. Add to the of India have reviewed the report on the operations solution a little hartshorn, and, if iron pyrites, rust ot last autumn at the experimental Farm, Cawnpore, ia precipitated. With a solution of nut galls common last August, it was noticed by them that the superi­ ink is produced. With prussiate of potash Prussian ority of the European over the Native system of blue is formed. Any of these testa will decide be­ ploughing had not been demonstrated, and it was tween iron and gold. requested that the results of the two methods n ight Should a lump of quartz be suspected to con­ be further compared. The present report of Mr. Fuller tain gold, the fact may easily be established as follows : contains a good deal of interesting evidence which —Pound the quartz finely—the finer the better. Boil bears upon this point. The conclusions suggested by this for a considerable timn in an equal mixture of his carefully recorded experiments, and by the accounts nitric and muriatic acid, filter the solution through received from the Court of Wards’ Estates and else­ linen or cotton. It will destroy these, but that is no where, seem to the Government to be that in the matter ; the experimenter must also be careful not to case of shallow-feeding plants, such as maize and other get any of the acid on his clothes, or it will destroy cereal grasses, inversion of the soil may be unservice­ them. If lie burn his fingers with the acid, he will able or even injurious, unless the freshy turned clod not do so a second time. Now add carbonate of soda is given time to mature; but that for crops, like to the solution when cool, and this will precipita'c cotton and the pulses, which strike far into the all baser metals. Filter again, and add a solution of ground by a tap root, deep cultivation is likely to oxalic acid till it ceases to effervesce. The gold will be beneficial, particularly in seasons of scanty rainfall. now be thrown down in the form of a black powder, Mr. Fuller is of opinion that bone-manure could only which may be converted into the usual form by come into any general use in Indian cultivation in the m elting. form of bone-dust, untreated with sulphuric acid, as the cost of converting it into superphosphate of lime would TEA IN AUSTRALIA. be prohibitive to the ordinary cultivator. He adds that the solubility of the bone-dust is much less than {From the Ceylon Commissioner.) that of the superphosphate, and hence that the full Melbourne, 15th July 1881. effect of its use would not be known till the second Mr. Moody’s letter on the tea question, in year after i‘s application. No doubt he will note the reply to Mr. Everard’s effusion, appeared in the Argus character of the next crop which is taken off the plot of the 5th, which I will post to the Observer, w ith experimented upon. To judge from the results of the the number of the same newspaper for the Gth. The comparative cultivation of exotic and indigenous fod­ issue of the 5th contains the letter from Mr. Moody der crops, the common countryjvar is practically equal which I mentioned in my last communication to you. in value to the black-seeded sorgho, and greatly superi­ Mr. Moody, who, besides his qualifications as a tea- or to Reana luxurians, Guinea grass seems to be a taster, is very competent chemist, easily disposes of more promising crop than the other exotics tested, the “ scientist” invented by Mr. Everard who could and its further cultivation will be watched with inter­ not distinguish between tea and wattle leaves. Mr. est. The experiments in foreign cottons may possibly, Dunn is making satisfactory progress with his analyses as is pointed out in the report lead to the introduc­ of teas from India, Ceylon, Java, China, Japan, &c. tion of suitable cotton plants in districts where the He believes that the report he will ultimately give to native variety is not grown. The “Kaisar” plough the world will revolutionize the standard for teas in appears to be now well established in the market, favour of those of India and Ceylon. He unhesitatingly and some improvements have been effected in the said to me that the vast bulk of the China teas, experimental water-lift.—Madras Mail. seed from them in the last three months. Should you $ot|i]6spondi3noe- care for the analysis, I shall be glad to forward it to you on its arrival from England. I may add that these To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. trees are growing in a rather poor dry sub-soil, and were last year manured with cattle manure. CASUARINA CULTIVATION One tree which I measured was 1' 10"in circumfer­ Maturata, August 1st, 1881. ence at the surface of the ground : four feet from the surface it was 1-1J in circumference, and its height D e a r S i r , —In your issue of the 3 0 th o f Ju ly , 1 notice a paragraph on the cultivation of casuarina would be about 22 feet.—Yours faithfullv, and the profits to be gained thereby. Could you C. F. DEANE-DRAKE. kindly inform me : firstly, where the seed could be procured; secondly, what makes the casuarina give {Copy.) Stratford, London F., 28th June, 1881. such a good return ? In fact, in what does its Dear Sir,—With reference to our interview yester­ value consist ? day, our Mr. J. E. Howard, F.R.S., called here this The above-mentioned paragraph states that common morning, and the sample you left us has been identified waste land is good enough for the purpose. Would by him as C. Uritusinga, probably grown in rather a a paddy field suit ? I should be glad to hear your dry soil for this variety. We propose submitting a opinion, as I am interested in the cultivation of all portion of your sample to a chemical analysis and on new products.—Yours, INQUIRER. completion of the same we shall have the pleasure of com­ municating with you again. Thinking they will prob­ ably be of interest, we have sent you by this post TEA CULTIVATION. samples of the Dutch Government barks just arrived 1st August. from Java viz., C. officinalis, variety Uritusinga, &c. D e a r S i r , —“ Young Tea” (if his plants are Assam Calisaya, Ledgeriana. You will at once notice in the hybrids) would do well to take off everything grow­ former the singularly close resemblance to your sample. ing close to the ground, to at least six inches above —We are, dear sir, yours truly, the surface ; remove all suckers ; top the plants down To Deane Drake, Esq. (Sd.) Howard & Sons. to 2' 6" or 2' 9'; and clear out the centre round [The C. Uritusinga of Howard, original Loxa bark, is the stem something in the same way as in coffee. now more generally spoken of as the Condaminea variety This will insure a strong growth laterally, but 110 of crown barks : renewed bark of this kind has sold as picking of flushes should be attempted until there are high as 10s per lb., so that the Mooloya seed from from six to seven buds on each shoot, i.e. that each trees eight years old ought to be valuable.—E d .] shoot would be p-bout 7 or 8 inches in length. I am not certain what month the cold season is due at SHORT CROPS DUE TO POOR CULTIVATION. Lemastota, but pruning should only take place in the July 31st, 1881. cold weather when little or no wood is being formed. S i r , —I agree with your correspondents who hold —Yours faithfully, SWADDY. that crops which are short this year are due, not so much to season or elevation, since there are so PLANTING AND COFFEE PROSPECTS IN many instances w’here a line of coffee separates, on JAMAICA. the one, 10 cw7t. per acre from nothing per acre, Botanical Department, Gordon Towu, Jamaica, on the other. 21st June 1881. It would, surely, be a very extraordinary thing if a line which was not a mountain ridge could so in­ D e a r S i r , —I beg to send you by this mail a copy fluence as to separate the season on its either side ! of our recently issued Handbook of Jamaica, which rl he fact is, that wherever coffee -was cheaply worked I send your worthy coadjutor and yourself as a memento last year, there the crop is bad : let this cheap from the Far West. course be repeated, and next year the crop will be Since my arrival here I have been nearly overwhelmed worse. with work, in a great measure arrears of former In most instances, wherever coffee was highly cul­ times when the department had no chief. tivated, especially in manuring, there the crop is I nevertheless follow events in Ceylon with great in­ very good. Where manure failed, the w’ood wras too terest, and read the Observer as a record of efforts of in­ late and unmatured. This wood is now ready, but dustry and energy which, perhaps, no other part of the unfortunately this is not the blossoming season. world can shew. I sincerely wish you every success. No improvement, but the reverse, unless they In reply to a question received a short time ago, change hands, can be hoped for from estates too I am happy to say we have no prevalent and wide­ involved to afford manure. spread disease affecting our coffee estates, which in Very much prominence is given to the Kelebokka spite of the lafe hurricane, are promising most abund­ valley this year, where some places which have ant crops. Dr. Cooke’s remarks could not possibly always been highly kept up are doing just tolerably well. apply to Jamaica, and he was evidently misinformed as But the crops there cannot hold a candle to some in to the ex-stvnco of disease on our estates.—I am, Dimbula, and, after twTo such very short seasons, very faithfully yours, D. MORRIS. would have, three years ago, caused more grumblings [We copy Mr. Morris’s suggestions for the im­ than congratulations. provement of the coffee indus'ry in Jamaica into Is there not an error in the statement “ that the th e Tropical Agriculturist.— E d. ] crops from average estates there amounted to as much during the last five as during the five previous years ” ? “ C. URITUSINGA” IN UPPER HEWAHETA. There was, it is true, a very heavy crop from every es­ Mooloya, Deltota, August 1st, 1881. tate in the dry season of 1876-77, the surplus of Dear Sir.—I have just received from my brother, which, by spreading it over succeeding seasons, helped Mr. J. F. Deane-Drake, who is at present at home, to uphold the average, but its influence fur such a the enclosed, which is a copy of a letter he received purpose was expended some time ago, and if the from Messrs. Howard & Sons. The bark here re­ average for five years, ending with the coming crop, ferred to was a email sample taken from four trees (8£ were placed beside that of the five previous years, years old) which are growing on this estate. There it would compa-e most unfavorably. With a generous arc, I should say, from 20 to 30 trees of the same expenditure upon manure, Kelebokka will, however, species and age at present growing here, and I have hold its own be?ide most other districts in the country. been lucky enough to secure over two pounds of ripe TRAMP. CINCHONA CULTIVATION. confirmed the belief that our best trees of Calisaya Nineteenth Annual Report of the Government Cinchona are veritable Ledgerianas. Every effort has therefore Plantations in British Sikkim by S u r g e o n -M a j o r been made to increase our stock of Ledgeriana, and G e o r g e K i n g , m . b ., f . l . s ., Superintendent of during the year 99,415 plants of that variety of Cali­ the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta, and saya were added to the permanent plantation. The of Cinchona Cultivation in Bengal. difficulties of propagating this sort make progress The avowed object of Government in maintaining ita rather slow, and the total number of Calisaya trees Cinchona Plantation in Sikkim is not to grow bark on the plantation still reaches only 412,000. There for sale in England or elsewhere, but to produce raw was, however, at the end of the year, a considerable material for the manufacture of cinchona febrifuge nursery stock of young plants (namely 380,000), and for the use of the people of this country, and in strict during the year we have now entered upon, the accordance with this principle it has been conducted Ledgeriana plantation (saving blight and bad weather) from the first. We have now had about four years’ should be considerably increased. The total number experience of the manufacture of febrifuge on a large of trees planted out on the two plantations is given scale, and for about the same period the medicine in the following table :— has been in general use iu this country. We have Total Trees in permanent Plantation. therefore some information to guide us, both as to Red. Yellow. New un- the amount of febrifuge which the plantation can pro­ (C. Succi- (C. Cali- named Other rubra ) saya.) variety, kinds. duce, and as to to the amount which is likely to be Mungpoo Division 2.902,335 393,915 146,020 30,592 consumed annually. The issues of febrifuge for the Sittoug ditto 1,132,200 18,780 53,878 year 1879-80 amounted to 8,164 pounds, while the plantation is capable of producing a considerably Total...4,034,535 412,695 199,898 30,592 larger quantity than that. Febrifuge being prepared Grand total of all kinds } Mungpoo ... 3,472,862 from red bark, I do not consider it necessary or on both plantations... > Sittong ... 1,204,858 advisable to increase the stock of red bark trees for 4,677,720 the present, and accordingly during the year which has just ended none were planted out. The number j 2. Details o f the year’s crop.—The crop for the year of red barks on the two plantations of Mungpoo and consisted of 377,525 pounds of dry bark, of which Sittong stands at more than four millions, and many 348,560 pounds were taken from the old and 28,965 of the trees are quite young. These are sufficient to pounds were got by thinning the new plantation. Of provide raw material for a considerably extended the yield of the old plantation 267,335 pounds were consumption of febrifuge. Notwithstanding the good red bark, and 81,225 were Calisaya ; the nc-w planta­ estimation in which febrifuge is now held by the tion bark (28,965 pounds) was all red. This crop medical profession in India, there still exists, and exceeds that of the previous year by about 16,000 probably always will exist, the necessity of supplying pounds, and is the largest which has yet been gath­ Government hospitals and dispensaries with a certain ered. The increase is due to the large quantity of amount of sulphate of quinine. It is therefore of Calisaya—a bark which has formed but a small pro­ importance to stock the plantation with a sufficient portion of any former crop, while this year it forms number of quinine-producing bark trees to meet the nearly a fifth of the whole. And the largeness of Government demand for quinine. Of such trees we the amount of Calisaya bark is due to the fact that have two sorts on the plantation—namely Calisaya, during the year a great number of trees of inferior and a supposed hybrid variety which appeared on the and doubtful sorts were uprooted. This was done as plantation some years ago. Mr. Wood’s analysis part of the policy of reducing the yellow bark planta­ showed that this new variety yields a bark rich in tion as quickly as possible to one of pure Ledgeriana. quinine, and steady efforts have therefore for years When this object has been completely effected, good been made to increase it. During the year 85,000 trustworthy seed of a pure quinine yielding bark tree plants of this hybrid were put out at Mungpoo and may be hoped for, and propagation of the best species 5,000 at Sittoug, bringing up the full number now should thenceforward be made easier. The Cali­ on the plantation to close 011 two hundred thousand. saya bark got from these uprooted trees being, as As has been frequently explained in previous reports, already stated, unsuited for the manufacture either of Calisaya is a specific name which covers a large febrifuge or of quinine, there was no way of disposing number of varieties, many of which produce barks of it but by seining it to London for sale, and, with which are essentially druggists’ barks, being well the sanction of Government, a small consignment of suited for preparations such as decoctions and tinct­ it was shipped to England iu the early part of the ures, but being nnsuited for the manufacture of year. Yellow bark of any kind from India has never febrifuge, a ’d containing too little quinine to be before been offered in the London market, and in­ worked profitably as sources of the pure sulphate of deed, except at Mungpoo, it is not grown anywhere that alkaloid. One of the varieties of Calisaya is in British India. Opportunity was therefore taken surpassingly rich in quinine, and this, in compliment to add to the consignment of inferior barks a small to the Collector who brought the seed of it from quantity of our really good Ledgeriana bark, so as to South America, has been named Ledgeriana. Mr. get some idea of its commercial value. The result Wood’s analysis of .the various forms of Calisaya was most satisfactory. The 625 pounds of Ledgeriana enabled us to distinguish the bad ones by their leaves, bark which were brought to auction in London sold and my recent visit to the Dutch Plantations in Java for 10s lOd per pound. The inferior barks also brought 67 excellent prices, one batch of 2,655 pounds having I bark so largely imported to London from the north- been sold for 7s 6d per lb. Other barks brought 5s j ern part of South America. Four plants of this were Id, 3s lOd, 3s 9d, 3s 8d, 3s 7d, 2s 10■ o .2 5 '5 5 u interest at 4 per cen.0 sin^e their commencement. S § "3 ;r "a n, 5 The savings effected by similar substitutions of febri­ fuge for quinine in former years amounted to eleven o o o o o o o and three quarter lakhs, the t )tal saving now there­ Table showing the number and distribution of Cinchona fore stands at sixteen and a quarter lakhs of rupees. Plants in the Government Plantation, Sittong As the object of tiovernment is not to make money Division, on the 1st April 1881. by its plantation, but to provide the masses of the people with a good remedy for fever, cheap enough fc£_i to t to be within reach even of the poorest, it may soon -goo ! become a question whether the selling price of the - 8 1 . § 8 00 , N a m es o f s p e c ie s febrifuge might not be reduced. ~ r-1 13. During the year two additions were made to of C in c h o n a .

the plantation staff by the arrival from the Royal s ^ ^ 1881. c,© 5 ©

Gardens. Kew, of Messrs. Kennedy and Pavkes. on 1st A p ril 1881. on on 1st A p ril

Number in per­ Ph - manent plantation Number in per­ Mr. Pantling, who was formerly sec md assistant, manent plantation was transferred early in the ye r to the curator- C. New variety ...... ship of the Botanical Garden, Calcutta, and Mr. H. 48.878 5.000 53,878 C. Succirubra ...... 1,132,200 Crofton was appointed to officiate lor him. Mr. Lister, 1,132,200 C. Calisaya ...... 12,780 6.000 18,780 the first assistant, has worked well during the year, and in him Mr. Gammie has had a most efficient and T o ta l .., 1,193,858 11,000 1,204,858 trustworthy helper. Mr. Gammie’s own merits are Table showing the produce o f the Government Cinchona Plantations in British Sikkim since S tt) c3 their beginning. M u n g p o o D i v i s i o n . Dry bark collected by pruning and n> © ® © ><5 © X 3 S 5 H S H O thinning during 1869-70... 2,400 ^cot-Cirfco r^ccT D itto D itto 1870-71... 12,500 D itto D itto 1871-7-2... 39.000 D itto D itto 1872-73... N il D itto D itto 1873-74... 16.000 1© 0 #M 0 0"t* 1 IQ 5 0© 1 1-4 3 'S 00 © 00«O-hOiO >0 © »o ® © . C5 rHOI^ I-J Do. of 1879 80 345,740 i *£ eo cT rr © © MW I-H f* Do. of 1880-81 348,560 T otal 1,829,201 Ci- r— O ©O K3io icO O.- . r - 1>. i5^|2 S it t o n g D i v i s i o n . 5 «j} ©T -r* Dry bark collected by pruning and thinning during 1879-80... 15,850 Ditto Ditto 1880-81... 28,965 •6910'e Cl 139X1} T otal 44,815 e;i?mixojdy j G e o r g e King, 11.11., Surgeon-Major, Super­ •s)umd intendent, Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. jo .Toquinu t 'e u i S i J f ) Q u in o l o g is t ’s D e p o r t f o r 1880-81. The operations at the factory during the year may be summarised as follows :—For a factory expenditure jT5 qjBdn of R85,921-6-3 (including the cost of the bark used), e o n ' B i s i (J 9,296 lb. of cinchona febrifuge were produced, of which 8,653 lb. 13 oz. were disposed of to the Government Medical Depdts and to the public. •Suijtrejd © Q) ,-H © © O O h S O c 2. The budget allotment of the factory for the jo JT59J 00 CO CO 00 © 00 year was R35 700, but of this sum only R27,784-10-9 were spent, so that there was a saving of 117,915-5-3. The details of the factory expenditure are given in the following table :— R. A. Paid for acid, 29,007 lb ...... 5,424 8 packages for ditto 222 8 carriage of ditto 3,026 12 ,, of empty jars ...... 1,552 11 soda, carriage & storage of ditto 5,950 5 charcoal ... 202 13 casks and other plant... 472 14 carriage of ditto 201 13 D § sundry expenditure 1,075 0 labour in factory ...... 2,596 6 Quinologist 3,912 14 | f c. travelling expenses 206 4 carriage of febrifuge ... 731 10 tins for ditto 1,192 5 I "S -o J “ a. |p § advertisem ent charges .. 557 4 ^ p - ... labour in packing, &c. 458 6 rae-iKco Total... 27,784'10 9 R. Cost of bark, 218,005 lb. (crop of 1879-80), at an­ nas 2-6 4147 per lb. 34,534 2 3 Stock of Bark on \st April 1881. Cost of bark, 136,475 lb. (crop of 1880-81), at an­ lb lb nas 2-9 2053 per lb. ... 23,602 9 3 Succirubra ...... 159,825 58,136 11 6 Calisaya ...... 64,900 On the way to London 44,600 85,921 6 3 109,500 Officinalis ...... 3,900 By febrifuge produced, 9,296 lb., at M ic ran th a ...... 3,977 R9-3-10-625 per lb. 85,9-21 6 3 P ahudiana ...... 600 3. These figures shew that the net cost per lb. of T otal 277,802 the febrifuge was R9-3-10-625, which is about (14L fourteen and a quarter annas less than the cost of annas 2 pies 9"2053 per lb. Part of this bark was the produce of 1879-80. They also show that the used in the factory during the year, a small part proportions debitable to raw material and to cost of (unsuitable for manufacture or febrifuge) was sold in manufacture are as follows :— London in June, and of the balance part remained R . A. p. in store at the end of the year, while part was on Price of bark used in making 1 lb. of its way to London for sale there. The small con­ febrifuge ...... 6 4 0'760 signment sent to England in June was brought to Cost of manufacture, thinning, advert­ auction in London, and £2,825 19s lid were realized ising, and sale ...... • •• 2 15 9'8G5 for it. The Accountant-General has not as yet given the plantation credit for this sum. Account sales Total ..9 3 10 625 have, however, been duly supplied to me, and from This decrease in net cost per lb. is due to the low these I am able to compile the following account:— price of the bark which was principally that of 1879 80, B . A. r . which stood at only annas 2 pies 64147 per lb. Proceeds of sale of 12,519 lb. of yellow 4. During the year, 8,653 lb. 13 oz. of febrifuge cinchona bark, net £2,825 19s lid., were disposed of as follows :— lb. oz. at Is 8Jd per rupee ...... 33,034 13 3 To Medical Depot, Calcutta ... 3,000 0 Less freight and other shipping charges 744 5 1(1 Ditto, Bombay ... 2,000 0 Ditto, Madras ... 500 0 Total... 32,340 7 5 Sold to the public ...... 3,150 11 7. The stock account shows little change since Given as samples, &c 3 2 last year. The exact state of it is as follows:— Stock at 31s< M arch 1880. T o ta l... 8,653 13 Chemicals and stores ...... 5,848 0 0 This result is better by 489 lb. than that of the Febrifuge 3,7261 lb. at B10-2 0'845 previous year, during which only 8,164 1b. were dis­ p er lb ...... 37,732 0 0 posed of. The most gratifying feature about it is, Bark ...... 55,125 13 5 however, that the improvement is mainly due to the increase of 393 lb. in the sales to the general public, Total... 98,715 33 5 with whom the febrifuge is daily increasing in reputa­ Stock at 31 st M arch 1881. tion as a thoroughly good cure for fever. Chemicals and stores ...... 6,500 0 0 5. When the outturn of the past year is added to Febrifuge4,368 lb. 13 oz. at I19-3-10'625 that of former years, the total production of febri­ per lb 40,380 0 0 fuge at the factory since its commencement is brought Bark 277,802 lb. overhead at A2-9'2053 up to nearly 37,000 lb. The subjoined table shows p er lb...... 48,044 0 0 the exact result. 94,924 0 0 Febrifuge produced from commencement to 31st ,1/arc/d 881. Decrease in value 3,781 13 5 lb. oz. lb. oz. Manufactured in Supplied to Medical Total... 98 715 13 5 1874-75 .. 48 10 Depot, Calcutta... 15,454 3 8. Collecting these fignres, the financial result of 1875-76 .. 1,940 6 Supplied to Medical the working of the plantation and factory may be Depot, Bombay ... 5,200 0 tabulated as follows :— 1876-77 .. 3,750 12 Supplied to Medical D r . E . a . p . Depot, Madras ... 1,100 0 To value of stock at 31st March 1880 98,705 13 5 1877-78 .. 5,162 0 Supplied to Straits To value of bark yielded by the new Settlements 30 0 (Sittong) plantation during 1879-80, 1878-79 .. 7,007 0 Sold for cash 10,393 8 viz. 15,850 1b. at As. 2-6-6147 peril). 1879-80 .. 9,434 13 Sam ples, &e. 93 1 (omitted in last year’s accounts) ... 2,510 13 0 1880-81 .. 9,296 0 Stock in hand on 31st To value of bark yielded by the new March 1881 4,368 13 (Sittong) plantation during 1880-81, viz. 28,965 1b. at As. 2-9-2053 peril). 5,008 5 0 Total...36,639 9 T o ta l.. 36,639 9 To cash received from Treasury during The stock on hand at the end of the- year (4,368 lb.) 1880-81 for expenditure on old planta­ may appear large. It is however, equal to only about tion ...... 60,281 7 3 six months’ consumption, and in my opinion this is To cash received from Treasury during not at all too large a reserve to have in hand to 1880-81 for factory 27,784 10 9 meet any possible sudden demand which may arise. Profit on the year’s working ... .,. 80,290 1 6 6. As has been explained in former reports, the plantation and factory are worked financially as one Total... 2,74,581 2 11 concern. It is necessary for me therefore here to C r . refer to the results of the working of the plantation. By value of stock at 31st March 1881 94,924 0 0 As will be seen by the plantation report, the total By cash receipts for sale of febrifuge, expenditure on the pirt of it which is in bearing seed and plants ...... 56,436 11 6 was 1160,281-7-3, and in return for this there was By credits from Medical Depots for harvested a crop of 3,48,560 lb. of bnrk. This bark febrifuge, viz. :— I I . A. r . was taken over by the Quinologist at cost price, C alcutta ...... 49,545 0 0 namely annas 2 pies 9 2053 per lb. Besides this bark Bom bay ...... 33,030 0 0 from the old plantation, there was got by thinning Madras ...... 8,305 0 0 the trees on part of the young or Sittong plantation 90,880 0 0 28,965 lb. of baric. The Sittong plantation is not yet By sale of bark in London 32,340 7 5 in bearing, and its produce and accounts are kept separate from (hose of the old plantation. As a Total...2,74,581 2 11 matter of convenience, however, these 28,965 lb. have The profit of R80.290 shown in this statement is been brought into the accounts at the same rate as equal to a dividend of eight per cent 011 the capital the produce of the older plantation. The total pro­ ot' the plantation, and of this dividend 5 per cent are duce of both plantations, namely 3,77,525 lb., was derived from the sale of febrifuge and three per cent thus made over to the factory at a uniform rate of from the sale of a small quantity of yellow bark. 68 This, however, does not represent all the advantage NOTES ON GUMS, RESINS, AND WAXES, which Government derived from its cinchona pro­ B y C. G. W a r n f o r d L o c k . p e rty d uring 1880-81* For, as is show n in m y rep o rt on the plantation, the saving effected by substituting (From th e Journal of the Society of Arts.) febrifuge for quinine in Government hospitals and The following economic notes, from the journals of dispensaries during the year slightly exceeds four and- recent travellers, seem worthy of reproduction in a a-half lakhs of rupees, or iu other words is nearly collective form :— equal to half the entire capital expenditure on the Senegal Gum.—The product of acacias which grow plantation. in the neighbourhood of the Sahara. During the In addition to his duties as manager of the planta­ harmattan winds, the gum exudes from the bark of tion, Mr. Gammie has been in executive charge of the trees in tears, and solidities in the open air, the the factory during the year, and I have again to bring amount of exudation depending upon the force aud to the notice of Government the admirable efficiency duration of the wind. 'The production in 1871 was with which he has discharged his onerous duties. 3,161,906 kilo, (of 2*2 lb.). Not only has been Gammie conducted the routine of M p a fu.—A large tree yielding a sweet-scented gum- febrifuge manufacture with precision and skill, but resin, much valued by the natives on the Victoria he has spent much time on attempts to increase the N yanza. percentage of it extracted from the bark. These at­ G um Arabic is produced by Acacia gummifera tempts, I am glad to say, promise to end iu success. (Mimosa gummifera, Acacia, coronillaf'olio, M im osa Mr. Gammie has also succeeded in turning out a coronillcefolia, Sassa gummifera), a scarcely known crystalline preparation of the febrifuge which, being plant of Morocco, occurring abundantly as a thorny free from the amorphous alkaloid, may prove a bush in the lower of south and west Morocco, pleasanter medicine than the febrifuge in its present according to the testimony of the natives, who call form. Mr. Gammie’s crystalline febrifuge is a very the p la n t alk tlah. The gum does not seem to be pretty preparation, being nearly as white as quinine collected iu the western portion of its range in South itself. It is now under trial in various Government Morocco, but in Demnefc, whence it is carried to Moga- hospitals, and if it is reported well of, arrangements dor. Possibly ib is only iu the hotter and drier re­ can be made for its production on a large scale. gions of the interior that the gum is produced in Mr. Gammie has continued to direct his attention to quantities to be worth gathering. At any rate, its the economical manufacture of sulphate of quinine. gum is yielded only during the hot, parching months Decided progress has been made in this matter since of July and August, and increases according to the last year, but further experiments will be necessary hotness of the w* afcher and the sickly appearance of before I can advantageously submit a full report 011 the tree, being least after a wet winter aud iu a the results. The head writer in the cinchona office, mild summer. Baboo Gopal Chandra Datta, has worked exceedingly Some accounts suppose the Moroccan gum Arabic well during the year, and to him my acknowledg­ to be derived from Acacia arabica, which is found in ments are due, Senegal: but ail the inquiries made by Consul R. 10. As an appendix to this report, I give a tabular Drummond Hay, for Hooker and Ball, agree that this statement of the details of the cash receipts for plant, the alk awarwhal of the Arabs, is nob found febrifuge, &c., for the year. in Sus, no such tree existing either north or south Cash Income for 1880-81. of the Atlas Mountains, its gum being hi ought from R , A. p. Soudan, and of inferior quality to that of A. gummifera. Cash received for sale of febrifuge and It is further stated that this latter species grows paid into the Bank of Bengal and chiefly iu the provinces of Blad Hamar, ltahamma, oilier Government Treasuries ... 52,673 0 0 and Sus. Credit for cash paid for febrifuge into E lem i.—This used to be brought in large cakes to Diuagepore Treasury by Civil Sur­ Bembe (West Africa), and is said to be very abundant geon of Rinagepore during 1880-81 74 9 6 at not many days’ journey. Credit for cash for febrifuge paid into Jutahy-seca.—A resin or gum which exudes from the Hooghly, Burdwan, Jessore, Rungpore bark of thejutahy tree of Brazil {Hymm&a mirabil'ts); and Dinagepore Treasuries by Civil universally employed for varnishing native pottery. Surgeons of these districts during Copal.—Red gum copal is almost entirely the pro­ 1879-80, but credit not previously duct of the Mossnlo country (Angola), though it given to this office ...... 295 8 0 exists farther north, as at Maugue Grande. Until Credit for cash paid into Bank of Ben­ 1858, it was a principal export from Ambriz to America, gal during 1880-81 by Superintendent but the war stopped it. According to native accounts, of Lock and Police Hospitals, Cal­ ib is found below the surface of a highly ferruginous cutta, for febrifuge indented for dur­ hard clay, at a depth of a few inches to two feet. ing 1880-81, but supplied after the It probably extends much deeper, but the natives are year had closed ...... 124 0 0 too Lzy to look for it. It occurs in irregular flat Cash paid into Bank of Bengal, Cal­ masses up to several lbs. The natives only dig for cutta, and into Darjeeling Treasury it during and after the last and heaviest rains in on account of sales of seeds, plants, March-May, and restrict the export to maintain the and bark ...... 3,269 10 0 price. No trees and but little grass grows over the Credit for febrifuge supplied to Medical spots. The tree is said to be abundant in the woods Depots, viz.:— adjoining the inner side of the wilderness in Usambara R . A. p . (East Africa), but does not extend farther inland. C alcutta ... 49,545 0 0 A great staple of the district traversed by the newly- Bombay ... .. 33,030 0 0 made road from Dar-es Salaam, through the Waza- Madras ...... 8,305 0 0 maro country, is gum copal, which is found in many 90,880 0 0 parts. This fossil resin seems to exist, even iti the richest diggings, only in patches, as tnough it were Total credited by Accountant-General... 1,47,316 11 6 produced by isolated trees. The natives appear to Net proceeds of sale of bark iu London work the country nowhere systematically ; they sink (not credited by Accountant-General) 32,340 7 5 test-holes, and, on finding traces of the resin, work that part thoroughly. In many places, test-holes Total... 1,79,657 2 11 have been made and the place abandoned as useless, although not far off a patch has been well worked. and the tapping is stopped. The trees will grow on The fossil resin, now found underground usually in th e terra Jirme when planted, but their seeds naturally red sandy soil, is undoubtedly the produce of the lodge in lowland swamps. Trees properly planted and same species of tree as still exists in these jungles, caved-for yield well in fifteen years. Brazil is being and which now yields an inferior sort of resin. The gradually cleared of its rubber ; gatherers now go to difference between the two products seems to arise the Tocantins, Madeira, Purus, and Rio Negro, and from chemical or molecular change effected by time. will soon clear there also. Straus’s method of prepar­ The copal tree grows throughout the Uz imaro country, ing rubber, instead of smoking, is to drop the milk and is by no means confined to the sea coast, but into alum solution; it is stated to be superior, but is is even more abundant inland beyond the first coast- not adopted. rid 'e. It is not seen, however, where the old lime­ India-rubber plants grow on the slopes of the stone formation of the interior makes its appearance. Cuneroons mountains (West Africa), but the people Chian Mastic.—The mastic country of Chios is do not yet know their value. India-rubber trees usually flat and stony, with little hills intervening, abound on the River Djour, in the province of Bahr el and with rare streams. Rain is destructive of the Ghazal. The natives of the Marntse-Mabunda empire, harvest; frost is rare, but much to be feared. The resin on the Upper Zambesi, trade in India-rubber with is a product of Pbitachia lentiscus. The principal the tribes to the west. engaged in the industry are Calimassia, Saint T he L andolphia vine is known from Pangani inland Georges (south of Anabato), N6nita, Mesta, and Kala- all the way to Handei (in Usambara, East Africa), moti, besides which there are about a dozen of minor and at Magila the rubber is made into balls for export. importance. The mastic occurs in white grains, vary­ The giant creeper, L andolphia, grows chiefly on trees ing in size from a pin’s head to a pea. The shrubs near rivers and streams in Angola and the Congo. yielding it are about the height of a man. It occurs Every part exudes a milky juice when cut or wounded, also in Africa and Arabia, but always of inferior but this will not run into a vessel placed to catch quality, though no satisfactory reason has yet been it, as it dries so quickly as to form a ridge 011 the adduced for the fact. In July-August, a great num­ wound, which stops its further flow. The blacks ber of incisions are made in the stems of the shrubs, collect it by making long cuts in the bark with a and renewed three or four times. Repeated visits are knife, and as the milky juice gushes out, it is wiped then made to collect the resin which exudes. A off continually with the fingers, and smeared on their shower of rain during this period produces disastrous arms, shoulders, And breast, till a thick covering is results, by washing away the resin. There are four formed. This is peeled off their bodies and cut into qualities of mastic :—(1.) Cake mastic is composed of small squares, which are then said to be boiled in large pieces, and is considered the best by connoiss­ water. From Ambriz the trade in this rubber quickly eurs ; it is sold chiefly for use in the seraglios, all spread south to the River Quunza, where considerable Turkish women chewing mastic; its price is 120 to quantities are exported. 130 piastres, and even more, per oke of 1,300 grm. Within 20 miles of the coast from Liawa and the (2.) Mastic in large tears is worth 90 to 100 piastres Lindi estuary (Masasi and Kovuma, East Africa) the ordinarily. (3.) Mastic in small tears or pearls is forest becomes almost entirely formed of India-rubber worth 70 to 85 piastres, and is used industrially. (4.) vines, affording an abundant supply of tine India-rubber, Mastic mixed with fragments of leaves and sand is at present gathered only in a very desultory manner by used to make so-called “ mastic brandy,” the well- the natives, who gash the plants, and collect the rubber known Turkish liqueur, called rahi. It is made by as it issues in a liquid form, and dries hard after digesting mastic in the brandy obtained from dry grapes, short exposure to the air. Rolled into orange-like balls, re-distilling .the product, and flavouring with aniseed it is taken to Lindi, where what is worth 7 to 8 dol. and sugar. The best qualities of mastic are used 111 fetches 2 dol. The width of the belt is 15 to 20 miles. the Levant; Europe imports the inferior grades for On the Victoria Lake (Central Africa) are one or two making varnish. kinds of tree which produce caoutchouc of good quality. Chian Tupentine.—Afforded by Pisiachia terebinthus. Dr. Kirk has just determined, with accuracy, the That which exudes from the shrub is very white and plant which yields the best East African India-rubber, aromatic, but the quantity is very limited. and has obtained seeds of the species for introduction India-rubber (from Ficus elasiica).—The collection into India. It occurs in great abundance along the of the rubber in Assam is conducted under rigid re­ newly-made road from Dar-es-Salaam, in a west-south­ strictions 111 the case of all trees growing in the timber westerly direction, for about 100 miles towards the reserves, but cannot be enforced on scattered trees. interior of East Africa, through the Wazamaro country ; The Chard war rubber plantation has an area of 80 it is apparently but little affected, except in the immedi­ square miles. The e: ports from Lakhitnpur in 1871 ate neighbourhood of the villages, by the reckless were 2G0§ tons, value £8,340. Immense forests of mode buy up the gutta from Of India-rubber, 20,000,000 lb. are annually exported the gatherers, would refuse the pure article in preference from PanX (Brazil), chiefly derived from Sipkorda for that containing bark, to which the red colour is elastica, but a few other species arc admitted. The mainly due. utmost yield from each tree is one gill. Iu the wet India-rubber in the north-west districts of Borneo season, from February to July, the gum is weak, is the produce of three species of climbers, known to the natives as manoongan, vianoongan putih,nadL manoon- | It is next placed in large tubs half full of water, and gan manga. Their stems have a length of from 52 to 100 1 is washed by coolies, who, standing in the tubs, and ieet, and a diameter rarely exceeding (j in.; the bark holding on to a bar above by their hands, stamp and pivot is corrugated, and coloured grey or reddish-brown. about on the heels and toes, until, after a succession The leaves are oblong, green, and glossy; the flowers of changes, the resulting liquor comes off clear. The are borne in axillary clusters, and are succeeded by lac having been dried, is placed in long cylindrical yellow fruits, of the size of orange?, and containing bags of cotton cloth of medium texture, and about seeds as large as beans, each enclosed in a section of 10 ft. long and 2 in. in diameter. These bags, when apricot-coloured fruit. These fruits have a delicious filled, are taken to an apartment where there are a flavour, and are much prized by the natives. The number of open charcoal furnaces. An operator grasps stems of the India-rubber creepers are also cut down one end of the bag in liis left hand, and slowly re­ to facilitate the collection of the creamy sap, which volves it in front of the fire ; at the same time, an is afterwards coagulated into rough balls by the addition assistant, seated at the other end of the bag, twists of nipa salt. it in the opposite direction. The roasting soon melts The fallen gutta trees lie about in all directions in the lac in the bag, and the twisting causes it to the forest, and the rubber-yielding Willughbeias are exude, and drop iuto troughs placed below, which also gradually, but none the less surely, being ex­ 1 are often only the leaves of Agave americana. W h en terminated by the collectors in Borneo, as throughout I a sufficient quantity in a molten condition is ready the other islands, and on the Peninsula, where they I in the trough, the operator takes it up in a wooden likewise abound. spoon, and places it on a wooden cylinder, some 8 It was formerly thought th»t gutta-percha wa< the to 10 inches in diameter, the upper-half of which is produce of only one species of tree (Isonandra Gutta), covered with brass—in some places the freshly-cut, but that obtained from the Lawas district is formed smooth, cylindrical sbein of the plantain is used for of the mingled saps of at least live species, the juices this purpose. The stand which supports the cylinder of a Ficus, and of one or two species of Artocarpece, gives it a sloping direction away from the operator. being not unfrcquently added as adulterants. Tne Another assistant, generally a woman, now* steps for­ B ornean gutta soosoo, or India rubber, again, is the ward with a strip of agave in her hands, and with mixed saps of three species of Willughbeia, w ith th e a rapid and dexterous draw of this, the lac is spread milks of two or three other plants surreptitiously at once into a sheet of uniform thickness, which covers introduced to increase the quantity. the upper portion of the cylinder. The operator now The gutta trees are slow to attain maturity, and cuts off the upper edge with a pair of scissors, and are difficult to propagate, except from seed. The the sheet is lifted up by the assistant, who waves it Willughbeias, on the other hand, grow rapidly, and about for a moment or two in the air, till it becomes readily lend themselves to both vegetative and seminal quite crisp. It is then held up to the light, and methods of propagation; hence these are especially any impurities, technically “ g rit/’ are simply punched deserving of the attention of the Government of India, out of the brittle sheet by the finger. The sheets where they may reasonably be expected to thrive. are laid one upon another, and, at the end of the There are, doubtless, yet many thousand tons of day, the tale is taken, and the chief operator is paid rubber and gutta in the Bornean woods, but as the accordingly, the assistants receiving fixed wages. The trees are killed by the collectors without any thought sheets are placed in packing-cases, and when subjected of replacing them, the source of supply must recede to pressure, break iuto numerous fragments. In the constantly farther from the markets, aud prices will fresh state, the finest quality has a rich golden lustre. rise in consequence. The demand for India-rubber The dark-red liquor before referred to, as resulting from Borneo is of quite recent growth, yet in many from the washing, is strained, in order to remove all districts the supply is already practicdly exhausted. porions of woody fibre and other foreign materials. In Assam, Java, and Australia, rubber is afforded It is then passed into large vats, where it is allowed to by Ficus elastica, which is cultivated for the purpose. settle; the sediment is subjected to various washings, There are many milk-yielding sp'cies of Ficus in th e and at last allowed to settle finally, the supernatant Bornean forests which, with careful experiment, may liquor being drawn off. The sediment, when of the possioly be made to contribute renumera ive quantities. proper consistency, is placed in presses, from which it The Malayan representatives of the bread-fruit family is taken out in the form of hard, dark-purple cakes, also deserve examination, as an excellent India-rubber with the mmufacturer’s trade-mark impressed upon is derived from Castilloa elastica, a S outh Am erican them. This constitutes what is known as lac-dye. plant of this order. The dye which is thus separated from the lac by washing L a c.—Secreted by an insect (Coccus lacca), on the is said to be the body of the insect—not a ssparate branches and twigs of certain jungle trees, principally secretion. Ichusum (Schlcichera trijuga), plas {Butea frondosa), and It might appear that some mechanical arrangement bier (Zizgphus jujuba). The lac from the first is more would be more elficicious aud economical for washing esteemed than that from the others. To som^ extent, and separating the lac from the dye, but human labour the lac is found occurring, so to speak, spontaneously, is so cheap, that this is not the case. The daily pay of and is collected by forest tribes, and brought by them the women is Id. to l|d ,; of the men, ljd to 2d. No to the fairs aud bazaars for sale. Where, however, evil effect on the feet of the stampers is to be observed. there is a regular trade in stick-lac, propagation of the The great and sudden oscillations of price in the London insect is steadily carried on by ttiose who wish for market render this trade very risky, aud the aniline a certain and abundant crop. This propagation is dyes have well-nigh rung the knell of lac-dye in effected by tying small twigs, 011 which are crowded European industry. the eggs or larvm of the insect, to the branches of In Assam, a small quantity is produced in the district the above-named species of trees. Those larvae are of Darrang. In some districts, the insect is artificially technically culled seed. The larva, shortly after reared on the jhu^i tree (Ficus cordfha). sowing, spread themselves over the branches, and, taking Indian White Wax.—This is produced by the female up position, secrete around themselves a hard crust of th e Ceroplastes ceriferus, an insect allied to the Pela of lac, which gradually spreads till it nearly completes of the Chinese, whose product is so largely used for the circle round the twig. At the proper season, the making candles for the Buddhbt t-mples. The Indian twigs are broken off, and on arrival at the factory, insect deposits its wax in small masses upon the twigs are passed between rollers, which admit of any degree and branches of several trees, but more particularly of approximation. The lac is thus crusl ed off, and on th e arjan (Termina’ia Arjuna); it does no appear is separated from the woody portion by screening. to have ever been propaga’ed, nor has the wild product been collected, in quantity. Though an article of un. I niacum or ushak), is an object of commerce with Egypt doubted value, it would perhaps scarcely repay ex­ ; and Arabia, where it is employed, as of old, in fumi- penditure of European time aud capital; but the ! gating. The plant affording it is called fashook in natives might surely render its cultivation a very profit­ I Arabic, and has been hitherto referred to Freula able undertaking. The wax is soluble, or nearly so, | orientalis, or F. tingitana ; but Ball and Hooker con in boiling alcohol, also in benzine and ether, but only j sider it decidedly an Elaloselinvm , probably E. humile. very slightly in turpen ine and carbonic disulphide j Leared was told that this plant grows at a place two (C S9). Its composition is C13 H26 0. It is found ! days from Mogador, on the Morocco road ; but Honker at many widely-distant points throughout Sirguja, and ! and Ball were assured that it is found nowhere along is abundant, and suitably situated for experimental that route, nor nearer to it than El Araiche, a place cultivation, on the arjun trees growing upon the ! lying north of Morocco city, which is confirmed by embankment of the Purulia lake. 1 information gathered by E. Drummond Hay, to the The Gum Trade of Somali Land (East Africa).—The I effect that it occurs near Morocco, aud chiefly around gum , or habak, always sold in grades, bears the name of Tedla. ankohib. On sifting, it is always found mixed with a Glim Sandarach is a product of Callitrls quadrivalvh small quantity of other sorts which make weight in the (Thuja articulata, Frenela Fontanenii), a tree indigenous balance ; these are the habak euddi and the habak follala , to the mountains of North Africa, from the Atlantic The incense, or luban, sold in grades, takes the name to East Algeria, its eastern limit being undetermined. of beiho. T he saphi, or “ triage,” is divided into three The resin, once a reputed medicine, is collected by the qualities. The 1st, fa sous; th e 2nd, nagoua ; th e 3rd, Moors, and exported from Mogador to Europe, where medjigel. The saphi, or “ tiiage,” is made into doukans, it is used iu varnish-making. when the arrivals are not too great, by women and Euphorbium gum is produced by Euphorbia resi^i/era, children, who are paid about 6d. a day. a tree confined to the interior of Morocco. The juice The myrrh has but one quality, but it is necessary flows from incisions made with a knife, and hardens to be on the guard against the admixture of false and diops off in September, the produce being myrrh, of the same colour, but more powerful odour, abundant only once in four years. The people who which the Arabs call addi. It is easy to recognise collect the gum tie cloths over their mouths and nostrils, this latter, which always appears oily. to exclude the small dusty particles, which provoke T he m aidi, called in Europe “ gum elemi,” is a kind intense sneezing. The gum once had a wide medicinal of iucense iu large bleached tears. It presents the same use, but the trade iu it is now rapidly declining, and grades as incense, and buyers aim especially at preserv­ its consumption is restricted to veterinary practice, and ing the tears unbroken to heighten the value. as an ingredient in a marine paint. T he alet, or mourcoud, is a gr»-y gum , w ith an exquisite odour recalling t at of ambergris. T he addi, or false myrrh, whose odoriferous wood SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT is mixed with the wood of djirmeh, has an odour when OF THE COFFEE INDUSTRY IN burnt closely resembling that of “ seraglio pastilles.” JAMAICA. The faVah-fcdlah is a resinous bark, which is burnt to give off a peculiar odour, uuder the name of habak (Extracts from Mr. D. Morris's Lecture on “ Some droun. objects of Productive Industry ” delivered at the Toicn Statistics of the annual receipts of gums and incenses Hall, Kingston, M a y 17, 1881.) at the ports of the Medjourtine coast :— B ohars. When speaking of the high prices obtained for Bender Ziyfida ...... 250 Blue Mountain Coffee exported from Jamaica, it is Bender Gasem ...... 1,200 well, however, to bear in mind that, relatively, Abou RtSgabtS ) onfi it bears but a small proportion to the whole quantity Bender Baad j ...... *...... exported from this Island. I have been unable Borah ...... 300 to procure exact returns, but, I believe, I am not G andala ...... 500 far wrong when I assume that most of the high- Bender K hor ...... 1 ,0 0 0 grown and best qualities of Jamaica Coffee are E ds O rb 6 ...... 250 shipped to the Liverpool market. If this assump­ M er& ya...... 1,500 tion be correct, then we may set down the proportion G u e rs a ...... 200 of th e best Coffee ab about one-ninth or at the most Guesli ...... 400 at onc-eighth of the total quantity exported. For in­ Bender Felik ...... 700 stance, during the year 1879, the total exports reached A tlo ftla...... 1,000 69,715 cwts. ; of this 10,109 owts. ot less than one-ninth are given as having been shipped to the Liverpool T o ta l...... 8,200 market. It is owing to this fact, no doubt, that we The bohar is equal to 136 kilo., or, say 8,200 bohars find. Jamaica Coffee quoted at such low figures in are about 1,200 tons; this increases to 2,0u0 tons in a the London and New York markets— its merits there good year. being evidently based on the produce grown by Myrrh reaches two places only— settlers and small proprietors who possess neither Bender Gdsem ...... 30 Bohars. the means, nor the requisite skill, for curing the B o ra h ...... 3 „ coffee properly. Haffotin, in 1877, received 25 bohars. In the Parish of Manchester, for instance, coffee Magniiicent incense-trees, two to three feet in dia­ of very good quality is grown; and, I am glad to meter, are found on the lofty mountains towards the find several very energetic and successful planters north coast of Somali Land. Mareyeh, an important are devoting increased attention to the subject. As village, lying over 30 miles west of Cape Gardafui, Manchester coffee, grown ab elevations from 1,809 has a large expon of myrrh and incense. to 2,800 feet, obtains from 90s. to 100s., aud sometimes Obeidh, the capital of Kordofan, is the centre of a 120s. per cwt., it may reasonably bo supposed that large trade in gum, which is collected in the woods nearly, if not quite, ad the settlers’ produce, form­ by the women and children, and taken to their villages, ing the vast bulk of our exports, would obtain where it is disposed of to petty itinerant traders, for much higher prices if it were carefully cured and sent ultimate dispatch to Europe. to the market in a sound condition. The great draw­ Moroccan Gum Ammoniacum (which must not be back to improvement under this head arises from the confounded with the Persian product of Dorema Ammo - want of central curing establishments, either in 60 close proximity to the districts where settlers’ coffee a careful system of inspection under Government is mostly grown or in the neighbourhood of the control, whereby no coffee, whatever, could be ship­ shipping p o rts...... and I conceive th a t no greater ped unless it was pronounced by a competent officer service could be rendered to coffee industry in Jamaica to be thoroughly sound. With curing establishments —in view' of the great and increasing quantity grown at work, there would be less reason than exists at by settlers—than the establishment of such central present for shipping bad coffee; but, I fear, unless curing mills where the greater portion of the coffee something is done by coffee planters and coffee might be carefully cured and shipped in a sound merchants, to improve and maintain the general conditio?). [I am well aware that at present each character of Jamaica coffee, its name and position large coffee property in the Blue Mountain and Man­ in the markets of the world will, before long, be chester districts acts in a measure as a central curing seriously compromised. establishment, and by buying up settlers’ produce It is impossible within the limits of this lecture within its reach and curing it in a satisfactory to give more than a bare outline of the scheme now manner assists in bringing up the proportion of good advocated; but, if we take a lesson from our enter­ coffee, but they evidently fail to meet the difficulty, prising neighbours and adopt some elements of their for in spite of their influence, the fact remains that efforts t<> foster important industries, and maintain by settlers’ produce, forming the bulk of our exports, I judicious systems of inspections the good name and 1-avvd the Island in a most unsatisfactory state.] j value of their exports, we would soon place our coffee As tar as the coffee itself is concerned, that grown I industry on such substantial and permanent lines that bv many settlers is equal to the best Plantation ! it would become in the future, as it was in the Coffee, bub, owing to bad curing and the want of past, the pride and glory of the Island. Summing proper selection of the different qualities, the prices up the substance of the preceding remarks, what we realized are often only oue-half of what they ought evidently require are:— to be. The loss thus entailed must amount to Firstly—a judicious « xtensiou of coffee cultivation, thousands of pounds annually, and this loss is the with only such necessary buildings and barbecues more regrettable that it is capable of being saved 1 as are required for pulping the produce and de­ with only a little of the energy and industry which ! spatching it to the plains as parchment coffee. has been expended upon the cultivation itself. j [ Under this arrangement properties of f>0, 100 or Assuming that only two-thirds of the coffee raised 150 acres of coffee could be established for sums, in Jamaica is settlers’ coffee, and taking the loss , varying from £500 to £1,800; whereas if works and on account of head curing and careless snipping at barbecues are built sufficiently complete to cure even 20* per cwt., we have here an actual annual and despatch coffee tit for the market, nearly double loss to the Island of nearly £50,000 in this one these sums would be required, and fully one-half industry. [ At the present time when Jamaica the money would lie idle in unproductive buildings.] (settlers’) coffee in the London market is quoted Secondly—the establishment of central curing mills, at only 45s. per cwt., one property that had bought under trustworthy and efficient superintendence, where settlers ’ Coffee in the cherry and cured it thoroughly coffee received in parchment [or bought in cherry] obtained 110*. for it in the Liverpool market. This might be cured, sized, and shipped in a thoroughly is a difference of nearly Cos. par cwt! ] sound condition. [The actual cost of curing coffee Turning again to the question of curing coffee in already received in parchment and despatching it the plains a>d establishing mills near the shipping ready for the market would, under these circum­ ports, I am quite aware that many experienced coffee stances, be less than 24s. per tierce. The regular planters believe that coffee cured on the hills, where charge by well-known firms in Southern India and the heat is less intense and the process of drying Ceylon is only 3s. per cwt., but as pursued at the beau is more gradual, tends to develops good present in Jamaica, by having the work done tone and colour, and contributes to the produtiou of independently on each property, and by maintaining high class coffee. As long as the moisture in the people that are often only partially employed and bean is gradually dissipated, and, as long as there using indifferent machinery, curing and preparing is sufficient care and attention devoted to the curing coffee costs fully twice as much as it would cost to develope good tone and colour, without undue if done by skilled labour continuously employed in or prolonged exposure to sunlight, there can, how­ a large mill. ] ever, be no doubt that the plains are much more Thirdly—the organization of a system of inspection convenient and more suitable for curing coffee under government control whereby coffee, and than the hills. indeed alt other ayr&ultural produce, might be care­ ##****#** fully examined at the port of shipment and parsed If there were central curing establishments, with with an official mark, declaring it to be sound good water power, say at Gordon Town or near and in good order. [ On this point a careful perusal Kingston for the St. Andrew, Bed Hills, and Castle- of the Consular Reports of the United States will ton Districts; at Porus, near the Bailway terminus, show how greatly the character of their produce for the Manchester Districts; at Dry Harbour, or is maintained by a strict system of State Inspec­ St. Ann’s Bay for the St. Ann District; and at tion at the port of shipment. By means of a well Buff Bay or Port Antonio for the Portland Districts, organised Chamber of Commerce or by direet legis­ these establishments would buy or receive the coffee lation on the stbjeet, due inspection of our agri­ either in berry or in parchment, according to the cultural produce, prior to exportation, offers a distance it lias to travel. Coffee in parchment would most satisfactory means of checking evils which at only need to be dry enough to bear the journey present threaten to thwart and counteract all efforts without injury, and when once it had been placed to improve the agricultural interests of the Island. under the influences of a drier and warmer climate, assisted by machinery of the best and newest de­ SOIL-EXHAUSTION TESTED BY MR. LAWES. scription, the coffee might be cured and finally pre­ pared for the market at fully onc-half the pre­ (From th e Field, 2nd July, ISSl.) sent cost. Mr. Lawes, in his pamphlet entitled “ Fertility,’* ******* inculcates quite a new theory, which he claims to be As another important and decided step towards fully established by those important experiments he is securing the better preparation and improvement of carrying on at Bythamstead—one, however, so tho­ settlers’ coffee, there might be established at each roughly antagonistic to many old-established, long- of the principal ports, and especially in Kingston, settled conclusions and convictions, that it will have to be tried over and over again by other experi­ has grown thirty-eight successive crops of wheat, and menters, and in a great many different soils and places, certain portions of it have been totally unmanured ere it is likely to be generally accepted as “ proven.” during the whole forty years. Under the latter cir­ Probably the grand scope of the issue laid open by cumstance Mr. Lawes estimates the Ices of nitrogen Mr. Lawes will be best understood by quoting a from the soil at from 1,0001b. to 1,2001b. per acre; reply which he makes to M. Yille, the celebrated so that, all hough he has been drawing continually on French agriculturist chemist, which is to be found the stock of nitrogen on the soil for forty years, in the concluding part of the pamphlet. V. Ville, without adding any to it, there is still a considerable in his work on artificial manures, which has been residuum to draw upon remaining. translated into English by Mr. Crookes, maintains If there are no loopholes for error in these deduc­ that crops always yield more nitrogen than is sup­ tions, or a possibility that much more nitrogen may plied in the manure, and that this excess is derived come from the atmospheie, even to the Rothamsted not from the soil, but the atmosphere; that unmanured wheat plots, than Mr. Lawes supposes, he leguminous plants, and particularly such as peas, certainly advances evidence in the above that there beaus, clover, and lucerne, take practically nearly the is nitrogen remaining latent, even in comparatively whole of their nitrogen from the air ; while others, poor soils, in rather large quantities. Neither is it such as beetroot and colza, require a certain amount very difficult to understand by this theory why steam to be supplied by manure in order to establish active tillage, autumn cultivation, winter and summer fal­ growth, but that after this they draw their supplies lows, lining, &e,, always occasion such heavy crops. from the atmosphere. In reply Mr. Lawes states :— The soil, by being aerified and atomised, yields up its The facts 1 have adduced and the conclusions I latent nitrogen, which is converted into nitric acid have drawn from them are quite inconsistent with by the fermenting influences which are occasioned. those put forward by M. Yille, and more especially Even the fact of the Rev. S. Smith having grown his those relating to the sources of the nitrogen of the splendid crops of wheat thirty-three years in succes­ leguminous aud root crops. I maintain that the amount sion without manure, but by spade-dug, well-stirred of nitrogen supplied to our crops from the atmosphere intervals, becomes explicable without entertaining the —whether as combined nitrogen brought down by rain, idea that a single particle of the manure came from or that absorbed by the soil or the plant—constitutes the atmosphere. But what a startling conclusion are but a very small proportion of the total amount they wc compelled to come to after all this ; for, if Mrv assimilate; and that the soil itself (or manure) is Lawes be in the right, greater inroads must have been practically the main source of their supply. Indeed, made iuto the pre-existent stock of nitrogen in the it is a question whether, on arable laud, as much or soil the more these forces and influences have been more may not be lost by drainage or otherwise than applied ; aud it amounts to this, that the best and is supplied by the atmosphere. most assiduous cultivators must be the worst for land­ This is rather a startling dictum, not only for those lords’ interests, because they exhaust in greatest degree who all their lives have entertained a fervent belief the stores of land fertility, which, as alleged, are of in the possibility of transferring immense quantities of so much consequence ; and, reasoning thus, we must nitrogen from the air to the soil by means of broad- also accept the logical outcome that bad farming ex­ leaved plants, but also to the thorough cultivators, hausts land far less than good. who fondly imagine that, by continuous steam tillage, The conclusions of Mr. Lawes seem also to fix us autumn ploughings, scarifyings and stirrings, together 011 the horns of a dilemma in another matter. He with those rough furrow exposures in winter so well alludes, in the concluding part of the sentence quoted known to be salutary, a great deal of nitrogen may above, to the losses of nitrogen arable soils sustain be attracted and retained by the soil itself. Every­ by drainage and other influences, and says it is as body knows that all these influences effect a vast much or more compared with the quantities they re­ amount of good, and that lands become capable of ceive from the atmosphere. But if the nitrogen com­ yielding much better crops after they have been sub­ ing from atmospheric sources is washed out again to jected to them than they were before ; but Mr. Lawes this extent, so also must be the free nitrogen, which asserts that this is not because of any fresh-inherited is supplied direct in the shape of manure, or by wealth from atmospheric sources, but owing to a libera­ feeding stock with artificial food ; and if such a factor tion of nitrogen which was already in the soil in the account be duly entertained, it must lessen beforehand, the treasures of which only require to very materially the validity of tenant farmers’ claims be unlocked by a skilful hand to be rendered up very for compensation when they have employed largely freely. The theory which Mr. Lawes inculcates is either artificial manures or artificial foods for stock, simply this : that all soils have been furnished more in all cases in which nitrogen is supposed to be the or less with latent nitrogen, owing to the ages they chief legacy imparted. Mr. Lawes, in the early part remained in a state of primeval wildness, bearing of his pamphlet has the following passage:—“ As the vegetation of some kind which, after coming to maturi­ claims of tenants for unexhausted fertility are becom­ ty, decayed on their surfaces, to form mould and ing more and more recognised, the time seems to be incorporated as legacies for the future. The popular have come when some effort should be made to draw idea, no doubt, is that except in vales, alluvial soils, the line between the natural fertility inherent in our and those of well-known natural fertility, a large soils, which is given in exchange for rent, *md the proportion of this original endowment of nitrogen has additional fertility which the tenant brings upon the long since been exhausted ; but Mr. Lawes says this land at his option, but cannot altogether remove.” is not so, and he offers facts to prove his case. Ad­ This is, perhaps, a somewhat unhappy pretext to make joining the Eothamsted trial fields is a pbee of for the inquiry, inasmuch as the whole of the logic permanem, pasture, which he has analysed, and finds and facts adduced by Mr. Lawes tend to the conclu­ that, after removing all vegetable matter, the first sion that the grand source of fertility lies latent in nine inches of the finely sifted mould contain 5,700 lb. the soil; and, judging solely by what the pamphlet of nitrogen per acre, while the second nine inches contains, one would scarcely suppose it possible that contain 2,500 lb more. the most industrious and enterprising occupiers could The adjoining arable field, which has never been contribute to it to any very valuable extent. In remembeml in pasture, has been experimented on one place he says:—“ Large as the amount of im­ since 1S40, and Mr. Lawes believi-s that it possessed ported cattle food may appear, it will be found that at that time about 3,000 1b. of nitrog n in the fiisti its consumption is confined to a comparatively limited nine inches, and between 2,1001b. and 2,2001b. in area, and that it has but little influence on the gener­ the second nine inches. Since that period this field al fertility of the country at* large. As a proof of this fact, I may say that the addition of only 1 lb. of manure, and of afterwards retaining it to add to of nitrogen per acre to the 31,000,000 acres of culti­ the stock of fertility which previously existed. In vated land in Great Britain would require an import his pamphlet we find allusions to a principle capable of about 500,000 tons of corn and cake, and the con­ of converting nitrogen into nitric acid, and also fre­ sumption of the country does not reach this amount.” quent reminders that arable land is in danger of What of that ? Does not Mr. Lawes know, better losing a great deal of the latter when there are no than any one can tell him, that a far higher man* roots of growing plants to take it up as rapidly as urial legacy for the soil is left after the consumption it is formed; but, on the other hand, another process, of cake and corn in phosphates than in nitrogen ? which Professor Way taught us to believe to be con­ The latter may no doubt be washed out again, or tinually going on when fallowing is conducted on right evaporate, just as he assumes the nitrogen is which principles, receives no attention whatever. Does not comes from the atmosphere, but the former becomes the latter, however, more than compensate, adding to a fixture until the roots of plants appropriate it. So the stock of nitrogen which can be retained, for all far as the book bears on the tenants* compensation that is taken away ? This point will have to be question, a kind of special pleading for landlords’ settled ere the conclusions of Mr. Lawes can be accepted interests will be found running through almost every in good faith, for it seems reasonable to suppose that page. For instance, the principle is laid down that the original stock of fertility accumulated in primeval “ in most cases profitable agriculture involves a slow times become retained by the same process, M he laws but continuous exhaustion of the soil; ” that “ practic­ of nature are eternal, the same forces operating to­ ally the source of the whole of the nitrogen in our day as had existence long before man became a tiller crops is the store within the soil itself ; ” that “ rent of the ground. Mr. Lawes believes that the action of is paid for the right to remove without restoration man as a cultivator always has been, and will be, a certain amount of the stock of fertility in the soil exhaustive of the soil fertility previously laid up in and that “ the various restrictions introduced into store for him ; but most scientific men, as well as leases, covenants, and customs were designed for the practical agriculturists, have always deemed it possible purpose of limiting as much as possible the removal by adopting the best systems of management, not of this stock of fertility.” Mr. Lawes, however, merely to retard soil exhaustion, but add greatly to the admits that, “ in the face of the increasing com­ fertility pre-existent, even when taking continually petition with the agriculture of the world, it is hopeless heavy produce. Of the highest importance is it to to bind the tenant’s hands or cripple his energies by have facts and experiments to give information on the restrictive covenants of a bygone agebut, he such a vital point; ■ consequently, everybody ought adds, “ if at the commencement of occupancy a brief to feel deeply indebted to Mr. Lawes for his researches ; agreement could be drawn up between landlord and but his dictum ought not to be accepted without tenant, to define the amount of fertility which the many other soils being tested, and the application of latter was entitled to remove in exchange for his rent, a very crucial examination to every point of the the task of any arbitrator or judge called in to decide in q u iry . A g r ic o l a . between conflicting claims would be made lighter.” This can only mean that whenever an outgoing tenant presents a claim for the legacy of imported C o f f e e a n d it s M e d ic a l P r o p e r t ie s .—From an fertility he had left behind in the soil, the landlord extended work published by Dr. Henry Segur on should be empowered to call in an analytical chemist coffee and its medical properties, we take the follow­ to ascertain whether he has not exhausted the origin­ ing paragraphs: It is an error, he says, to believe al stock of fertility more than ordinary farming that the ive of coffee affects the nerves and brings would do it, or beyond the limit agreed upon by about ill humour as the result of its hurtful action on the respective parties in the first instance. Apart the digestive organs. Other causes of a different from the fact that this would render confusion worse nature produce the ill humour and general discontent confounded by introducing a new matter of disputa­ characterising modern society. The causes are wholly tion, it lands us on the very unsatisfactory ground moral. Ambition, and the desire for riches bound­ that, according to Mr. Lawcs’s views and conclu­ less and untrammelled by conditions, are the causes sions, the best farmers, who had grown heaviest crops, of the evil, and not the delicious and beneficial and kept the land more thoroughly under aerifying, coffee bean, as is wrongly and held by many ot the abrading, and fructifying influences, would be punished faculty. On the contrary, coffee taken in moderation most, and, although leaving their farms in much better comforts the system, enlivens the mental faculties, condition, according to ordinary powers of observation, and stimulates pleasantly without any of the disagree­ than they were in when they took them in hand, able alter effects inseparable from narcotics or stimul­ might be mulcted in heavy lines for having drawn ants. It gives strength for mental or bodily labour, too heavily on the pre-Adamite stock of fertility clears the imagination, cheers the mind, strengthens the which is the landlord’s property. body and predisposes it to bear fatigue and sleepless­ But a truce to all vain speculations of this nature. ness The mental pleasure, sleeplessness, and activity Every intelligent, experienced farmer thoroughly which it promotes have inspirited more then one believes that when he puts land into what is termed poet, wise man, and distinguished author by noble a good state of cultivation, the landlord’s interest is and lofty ideas. N o t ‘inappropriately is it called advanced quite as much as his own, however per­ “ intellectual drink” or the “ nectar of the wise.” sistently he may apply the high pressure of intensive It cannot be denied that the direct action of coffeo tillage. In fact, most men have become accustomed, is on the nerves, but its effects are not injurious as as the result of their own observations and researches, some believe, but are in fact wholesome. The nervous to conclude that the same rule may be applied to excitement produced by it is not weakening like that soil fertility as to capital—the larger the amount from narcotics. In fine, it acts as a cordial, enlivens obtained and available for use, the easier it becomes the brain, strengthens the imagination, and brightens to get more. The interesting but revolutionary theory the understanding. It contains, besides, peculiar nu­ which Mr. Lawes has built up would do away with tritive and medicinal properties. In intermittent fevers this thesis altogether, but there must surely be a its effects are wonderful, as is also the case with woof in the former somewhere or other, if we only malignant ones. Spasmodic asthma, hysterical affec­ take the pains to seek and discover it. Probably it tions, inflammation of the kidnevs, chronic diarrhoea, lies in his ignoring too much an active principle, which and even croup and diphtheria, are alleviated by coffee. must exist in most soils, of fixing nitrogen after being It is also remedial in cases of opium poisoning.— obtained either from the atmosphere or in the shape Straits Time s. CHINA MATTING. days, and then immersed in the colouring matter for a few hours only, the dye being hot. (From the Gardeners' Chronicle, 16th July 1S81.) In relating a visit to one of the largest of these In a recent number of the Journal of the Society of matting factories, fifty looms are described as being A rts is a report by the United States Consul at Can­ in full work, e ghfc of which were large and forty-two ton on the manufacture of matting in China. The small. The large ones are identical with the ordinary substance of this report was contained in a paper by silk looms, and are used in makit g the very wide, Dr. Hance in the Journal of Botany, vol. viii., p. 99; and also the damask or carpet patterns Three men but as the subject is one of much interest, and the are required to work each of the large looms, their paper of the American Consul is fuller in many of wages being from Is 3d to Is 8d per day. Eight its details, we make the following abstract :— yards of matting from each loom is considered an It is well known that enormous quan'ities of mat­ average result of a day’s work. The small looms ting are now made both for use in China as well as are rude and timple, each being worked by two for export. It is used largely for sails on the native small boys, who are paid from 7d to lOd per day sailing craft, as it is much cheaper, if not more each, an n the warps have been thus in the manufacture of floor-matting. It is said to arranged, and bundles of different coloured straw, grow better in the vicinity of salt water, when the sufficiently damp, deposited near the loom, one of water flooding it is sometimes brackish. It is planted the boys raises the weaving-bar to the top of the usually in the mouth of June, from slips. These are warps, tipping it forward, the slits in the bar allow­ allowed to grow for about two month*, when they ing the alternate warps to remain perpendicular, the are replanted in rows, the soil being plentifully holes carrying the others forward, thus separating manured with beancake; it requires nearly a year to them sufficiently to admit of a single straw being mature. When it is cut the stems are split in two passed between them. This is done by a long flat with a knife, and when partially dried in the suu piece of bamboo, a notch being cut near the end, packed in bundles, and manufactured into matting at into which one end of the straw is placed and then the city of Tung-Kuan, or brought to Canton, where used as a shuttle. there are several extensive manufactories. When When the bamboo is withdrawn the weaving-bar brought to the factory, the grass, as it is called, is descends, carrying the straw to the bottom ; the bar carefully sorted ; it is then made into bundles of 2 is then raised again and tipped down, thus carrying or 3 inches in diameter, and placed in large earthen­ the warps backward which had just before been ware jars holding about 10 gallons of wat*r. It is passed forward, the work of the shuttle being repeated. then allowed to remain in soak for three days, when As the weaving bar presses the straw down, the it is taken out aud dried in the sun for a day. If weaver gives the end of the straw a half turn round it is to be dyed the ordinary red colour which has the outside warps, the operation being repeat*d until been for years much in vogue, it is placed in jars the warps are full, the edges trimmed, the warps un­ containing a liquid dye made by soaking sapan-wood tied, the matting, now 2 yards in length, removed, chips in water. It remains in these jars for five and a new set of warps put on. The matting thus days, then dried for a day aft- rwards, again im­ woven is then dried in the sun and over a slow five. mersed in the dye for three days, when it is usually The shrinkage consequent on this drying is nearlj 4 ready for use. yards in forty. It is only wdthin the last two or three years that When dried, the matting is stretched on a frame other col-urs, such as green, yellow, and blue, have and woiked down tight by the hand, then sent to been used to any extent. The solution for colouring the packing-house, where men are engaged in fasten­ yellow is produced from the seeds and flowers of a ing the 2 yards’ lengths together, it requiring twenty plant common to China, the “ Truifa.” A yellow lengths to make the ordinary roll. The fattening colouring matter is also made by boiling for several together is done by taking the projecting ends of the hours 25 lb. of flowers of Sopbora japonica in 100 warps of one piece, and by means of a large bamboo gallons of water, and adding when cooled 1 lb. of needle pasting them backwards and forwards through alum to each 10 gallons of the solution. Green and the ends of another piece, in fact binding them to­ blue are produced from the twigs and leaves of the gether ; each roll of 40 yards is then carefully co­ “ Lainyip,” or “ blue plant,” which grows in abund­ vered with a coarse, plain straw mat, marked and ance near Canton. To the solution thus produced a numbered ready for shipment. small quantity of chemical dye is now added. In It would seem from Dr. Hance’s paper 1 e?ore dyeing these colours, the culms or “ straw” as it is alluded to, that two distinct plants are used iu the technically called, are soaked in water for seven manufacture of the above-mentioned mattings, the 70 culms of Lepironia mucronata being used for sails, the seed vegetating better and producing much stronger and those of Cyperus tegetiformis for floor matting. and healthier plants. The beds on which the seed is The “ Lamyip” or “ blue plant ” used in dyeing the planted must be regularly watered every twelve culms, is considered to belong to the natural order hours, if practicable ; not deluged, but geutly watered, Acanthacea;. Polygonum tinctorium is a well-known so as always to keep them moist. The plants will Chinese blue dye plant, and it might be supposed appear in forty or forty-five days, if the watering has that this would be sometimes used. By far the largest been regu'arly attended to ; but if this is neglected, quantity of these mats go to the United Staies of from three to four months often elapse ere the plant America, where it seems they are universally used in appears, and then it is not a strong shoot. On the summer iustead of carpets. The consumption in this plant appearing, attention must be paid to keep the country is abo very great, their chief use with us beds free from weeds of every description ; these will being for bed-rooms. sometimes spring up two plants together, one of which should be destroyed. Unremitting care is required COFFEE CULTIVATION AT BANGALORE IN during the two first months to rear the plants with 1828. attention, sheltering them f om heavy falls of rain or (From th e Madras Mail.) scorching heats, both of which are alike injurious. B a n g a l o r e , ------182S.—The cultivation of coffee When about two mouths or ten weeks old, they at this place has never been carried to any extent. will be from six to nine inches high, and are then No individual paid attention to it until Major G. transplanted to a second nursery, which must have Waugh, an officer of the Coast army, planted it in been previously well turned up and richly manured. his garden, in the Native cavalry lines here, in 1814 The nurseries ought to be in sheltered situations if and 1815, while he held the situation of military pay­ amongst peach trees, or others not of so large a master in Mysore, an office which he had tilled for size as to preclude the air. The plants will come on many years with great credit to himself and benefit quickly in the second nursery; they ought to be set to the public. I he shrubs planted by him are now from nine to twelve inches asunder, and continue of considerable size, aud bear luxuriantly ; great care here from twelve to eighteen months, attention being was taken of them when young, regularly watering paid to water them daily, and every month slightly and manuring them. The situation of the plants in turning up the ground, adding some good manure, this garden is also very good, being near to a good and keeping down all weeds. The plants are removed tank, and sheltered by large trees of other descriptions. from this to the ground intended for the coffee planta­ A few coffee plants are to be found in other gard­ tion, which should be prepared in a similar manner ens in the Cantonment, but, for want of care and to the nurseries ; they are here planted at a distance attention they Geld little. There are also a few very of from six to nine feet according to the soils, holes large trees in the fort, in a garden adjoining the being dug about two and-a-half le t deep, and filled old palace, occupied by the general officers command­ up on putting in the plant, with good earth and ing the Mysore division of the army. These have, in dung. After this the plant becomes very hardy and some sea-ons, yielded very abundant crops, and have requires but little attention, except in dry seasons, attained a greater size than any coffee plants to be when it must be watered. When the plant is removed, found here, being about twenty feet high and fall great care must be taken not to injure the roots nor of branches. I understand they were planted in 1806 should they be kept any time out of the ground and 1807 by a Dr. Hayene, at that time botanist for, if the fibres be suffered to dry, they are apt to and naturalist in this establishment. They were ori­ mauld and perish soon after. At three years of age ginally raised here from the seed brought by Dr. the plant begins to bear fruit, and at six years is Hayene, he having been the first who introduced in full bearing, and will continue in vigour- from coffee into this place. He had also as fine plants in twelve to fifteen years, after which it fails ; trees of the Laul-B mg garden, but these, having been ne­ five or six years’ standing will yield yearly from glected until lately, have come to no perfection. There four to six pounds, some of these large trees in the are some trifling plantations of coffee in villages ad­ Fort formerly mentioned bear from ten to twelve jacent to this, but the natives pay little attention to pounds. The coffee plant is an evergreen, and yields it, in con equence of the length of time that elapses, a crop yearly; it has a beautiful appearance at every ere it begins to repay the cultivator, and the trouble season of the year, particularly when in blossom, the attending it when young. flower being a pure delicate white from the time of From different native gardeners and others con­ budding, and flowering until the fruit is gathered, versant with the subject, I have collected the fol­ includes a period of six months, and in wet seasons lowing information :—The plant is propagated by seeds rather more. The fruit, when ripening, changes colour which should be sown after they are gathered from from green to a pale pink, and gradually becomes the tree, for if kept any considerable time out of the brighter as it ripens; when fully ripe, the husks are ground after being gathered, they will become too of a bright red like a cherry, and perfectly dry on dry to vegetate. A dark rich soil, rather dark with the stalks ; the mode of separating the fruit from the a slight admixture of sand, or the rich rod earth husks is performed by beating them slightly in a common in Mysore is the fittest for the cultivation wooden mortar; they very readily separate, if not of coffee : on wet cold ground or on clayey soils the gathered before being fully ripe. An acre of ground plants pine away or vegetate slowly, and yield fruit planted with good coffee trees, at the distance of 9 of an inferior quality. A sheltered situation is found feet, will contain 1,613 plants; and if these are pro­ best for raising the plants from the seed. The ground perly attended to, carefully watered and manured, ought to be well manured and turned up from twelve they will, after the third year, yield an average of to fourteen inches deep, the mould broke and pul­ four pounds each, or nearly 6,500 pounds from the verised ; and, previously to the seed being planted, acre, and continue to yield at this rate from ten to it ought to be formed into beds of four feet square. fifteen years. There seems to be but one species of The berries intended for seed must be allowed to coffee known here, although the appearance of it become as fully ripe on the tree as when they are differs considerably, owing to the soil and mode of gathered for use, then to be rubbed out of the husks cultivation ; some of it is a pale yellow, and another and mixed up with a small quantity of wood ashes, kind a dark yellow nearly green. and after being exposed for a few hours in the sun, The price of coffee varies much in Mysore : at they are put into the ground about two inches as times it is as low as four rupees, at others as high deep and six inches as under. It has been found as ten rupees a maund of twenty-five pounds. better to plant the bean whole than to separate it, — Oriental Herald, August 28. W. T. L. CINCHONA PLANTER’S MANUAL.* 1 /9.J is too high except for high percentages. Allowance (C ommunicated ) . mu>t be made for manufacturer’s charges. It would be interesting to know why the outer This book will be found to be very useful to all cells of the bark, as stated on p. 28, and 112, are engaged in the cultivation of this valuable tree. richer in quinine, which is correct, but this does It is a handy volume of over 200 pages demy not agree with the order of the formation of octavo containing the cream of information known the alkaloids given on p. 11. First uncrystallizable regarding cinchona. quinine; next crystallizable quinine to cinchonidine As in most works so in this a few errors have crept to cinchonine. in. On p. 1 it is said “ all alkaloids consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen alone.” This is not the Mr. Ka relake’s process will no doubt be* found to case, for there are a large number of alkaloids which be exceedingly good. It is a capital way of punish­ contain no oxygen, e.g. nicotine from tobacco, conine ing a tree and at the same subjecting it to a mini­ from hemlock, &c. On p. 4 “ The stem (endogenous) mum of harm. Quinine and its partners are stored is enlarged.” This must refer to the height and not up in the bark, and by punishing a tree in this way diameter. A little further on we are told “ repro­ its energy is then diverted to making good the loss duction does not commence till the plant is provided of that which has been or is about to be (in Mr. Kars- with a store of accumulated food” ; this is somewhat lake’s process) taken away. at variance with the statement on p. 78, for, when a tree The great changes to which bark is subjected, has reached a sufficient size and becomes impoverished, pointed out on p. 141, should be a sufficient induce­ it generally makes an attempt to reproduce its kind. ment to establish a local manufactory here, and ship In the second chapter, on p. 11, it says:—“ warmth home either the crude alkaloids or the pure, which of climate accelerates changes and hence bark grown could be done for a moderate outlay and would prove at low elevations contains less quinine,” but the remunerative. The latter part of the first paragraph next statement “ it follows that the quicker the plant (p. 1U5) is somewnat complex. Are we to gather fiom grows, ” &c. is som ew hat aw kw ard, for w arm th this that, when a tree is dying from ringing or generally accelerates growth and cinchona thrives other causes, the alkaloids are actually drawn very well at sea level. A very fine specimen was up to the leaves, and that disorganization of tissue growing a very short time ago in the Cinnamon Gardens, below prevents its return ? Although it may be of no great age, about five or six years, was over regarded as a fa lla c y that checking a tree increases 20 feet high, with a girth of more than three feet. the lichness of the bark, yet there is every reason Although this tree was quickly grown, the quinine to believe that, checking, by stripping, shaving, was slight. It is tolerably rich in alkaloids but they or Mr. Karslake’s process does make it richer, and there are in an uncrystallizable condition. Nevertheless it is also evidence to show that other modes of reasonable would make fine druggist’s bark. injury serve the same purpose. On the same page the value of quinidine ought Dr. Trimen’s chapter on the characters of the dif­ to be placed 1 efore cinchonidine. ferent species will be a great guide to those who A little further on “ the act of flowering does not wish to follow up the outward characters of the various appear to have any direct influence on the amount kinds. A little information might have been given of alkaloid in the bark” requires verification. In on the dry bark characters, as far as is known. several plants e.g. tobacco, the flowering has an effect On p. 188 appendix, regarding the analyses A. and on the alkaloids secreted. B., the salts of the alkaloids should not be added to The formula for quinine on p. 15 is a misprint. the cinchonine alkaloid and then called total. The The error is cleared up in the explanation following total alkaloids in A. and B. would be much less than on p. 28. “ It (Ledgeriana) is greatly given to sporting the quantity stated. but always within certain limits ” reminds one of Mr. Owen deserves great credit for this work, the wonderful sporting on a Maskeliya estate, so much and we trust that a second edition will soon so that fhe plants have been pushed out of the be required. It is a book which ought to be in category Ledgeriana. They are, however, good percentage the hands of every planter, of cinchona as well as quinine yielders, which is the great point to look after, of those interested in quinine. C hapter H I. deals w ith soil, &c. On p. 45-51, 61. certain statements are made regarding the suitability of soil which generally hold good, but it might be Mr. Owen writes, with reference to the above noted that in some parts of Ceylon cinchona trees criticism of the Manual, as follows :— thrive in stiff clay soil near a swamp and give a good proportion of quinine. ‘ ‘I have to thank your correspondent for his notice of the The analyses on p. 47 need not have contained ‘ Cinchona Planters’ Manual, ’ but hope I may be allowed the item “ Sulphuric acid, carbonic acid, and chlorine to reply to one or two of his remarks. I am sorry the. not determined,” for they must have been absent, as paragraph on the formation of the alkaloids is not the other constituents make up the 100 parts. clear to your correspondent, but I cannot help think­ On p. 50, reference is made to “ phosphoric acid ing the meaning is plain. The effect of the warmth at not being so high as in soil formed from sedimentary low elevations is to cause the higher alkaloids to geological formations.” It must be remembered that change into the lower ; it also causes the tree to grow our chief formation is but a metamorphosed sedimen­ quicker and secrete the more valuable alkaloids tary oue, and metamorphic action would not destroy (which are just formed) more rapidly : hence the former phosphoric acid. effect is modified by the latter. Allusion is dis: inctly With regard to the chapters on weeding, roads, made to ‘ the accelerated growth at low elevations,' draining, planting, nurseries, they are based on As to the influence of flowering on the alkaloids in experience, and will hold good generally. Part IV. the bark, the only authority on the subject is Mr. deals with manuring. On this there is much to be Broughton whose words I quote, and he adds iu his learnt, as very few experiments have been tried and report of December 9th, 1869, that this is ‘ a point on the bark tested by analysis. More information on this which I have made a careful enquiry.’ is very ddsirable. “ In the formula for quinine on page 15, two Messrs. Rucker and Bencraft’s unit value of 1/9 or numerals have dropped, but the printer’s error is made plain in the next few lines. * The Cinchona Planter’s Manual, by T. C. Owen, “ I cannot understand cinchona ‘ thriving in a stiff Colombo : A. M, & J. Ferguson. 1881. clay soil near a swamp. ’ As far as our knowledge and experience go the trees invariably die off at an early of the produce market to restore prosperity to the age in such situations.— The analyses and remarks on farmer. The axe must strike at the root of the evil • pages 47-50 are by Mr. Hughes. His item ‘ sulphuric land must be marketable. Till then the ex C. P. acid, carboinc acid, and chlorine not determined ’ must will keep his funds “ in better heart” by laying them have had some meaning, though on the face of it, it out at interest. A leading article in last w eek’s TV. B. seems superfluous. Agriculturist concludes with:—“ After what has happened “ Messrs. Kucker & Bencraft’s unit value of 1/9 —after a few very bad years, and a full crop such as and 1/9J was correct at the time it was written and last year’s in Scotland failing in many cases to square quoted, and is borne out by the sale list immediately accounts for the year—the confidence of the most san­ preceding. guine farmers in the stability of their profession is “ The order of formation of the alkaloids as decided being rather rudely shaken. Very material changes by Mr. Broughton is not necessarily at variance with on the conditions under which land is rented in this the fact of the outer cells of the bark being the country cannot be far off One other unfavourable year, richest in quinine, for in this part such changes as such as in some respects the present threatens to be, take place are slow and probably consist merely of a will unquestionably play sad havoc in farming circles, storage of alkaloid, the younger tissues being the scene the results of which are melancholy to contemplate.” of the changes described by Mr. Broughton (vide More figures, this time from the Aberdeen Free Press, pages 45 and 46 of the previously mentioned report). show that the “ sad havoc” has begun in our immediate “ The disappearance of the alkaloids from the bark I neighbourhood. of a dying tree is a fact difficult of explanation, and apparently antagonistic to the theory that checking the growth of the tree increases the secretion of the PLANTING IN MADAGASCAR. alkaloids, in support of which theory there does not appear to be any evidence which is not capable of (From our Mauritius Correspondent.) explanation on other grounds. ” I translate the following from a letter of the French correspondent at Madagascar to one of our leading papers. The writer is a native of this colony, and AGRICULTURE IX SCOTLAND. has travelled in Australia and elsewhere. He has also had a good deal of experience here in planting matters: (From a Correspondent.) “ In Queensland and the other Australian Colonies The reports by assistant commissioners of the Royal the land is low and sandy and labor is dear. At Commission on Agricultural distress are now published Fiji the plantations succeed perfectly ; but there are in a Parliamentary Blue-book. From one of them I take terrible hurricanes there. The country is unhealthy : the following figures that show at a glance how matters dysentery exists there permanently, and Sir A. Gor­ stand with farmers here, as it is of importance that don has upset the system formerly followed in re­ the planter having farming predilections, who manages gard to the employment of laborers by forcing the to “ get out” with a thousand or two, be posted up in planters to feed them on bread and meat. At Zan- latest facts and figures, that his change may not be to zibar, the cane grows well ; but the country is too a fire from a frying-pan :— dry. At Mayotte and Nossibe (French settlements on the east coast of Africa) canes thrive wonderfully ; A. B. but the climate is unhealthy and labor is very scarce. Rent £600, farm occupied by Rent £350, farm occupied by tenant. proprietor. Several mills have been abandoned for want of hands. Caithness. Ross. At Johanna (Comora Islands) the sugarcane also succeeds ; but Europeans are subject to malignant Profit. Loss. I Profit. Loss. attacks of fever and the Island is too small to afford space for more than four or five plantations, three al­ ready existing. Y ear end­ Y ear end-1 “ Madagascar remains to be spoken of. For every ing Oct. 31 £ s. d. £ s. d. ingNov. 22: £ s. d. £ s. d. competent and reflecting man it will he found the 1875 847 4 31 — 1875 97 6 5 — most suitable for the cultivation of the cane. The „ 1876 577 11 10 — „ 1870391 4 3 — land is still virgin, and plantations can be had at „ 1877 72 7 11 — ,. 1877206 7 7 — an any elevation and at a nominal price, while the „ 1878 - 61 17 4 „ 1878140 16 7 — vegetation is splendid without either guano or manure. 29 0 10 200 9 10 „ 1879 — „ 1579| — Labor is abundant, costing only R4 to R6 per month, including the cost of rations, and there are no vexa­ C. D. tious police regulations.” Bent, £800, farm Rent £230, farm occupied I he question of irrigation applied to our cane fields occupied by tenant. ’ y tenant. continues to occupy the public mind here to a great Caithness. Aberdeenshire. degree; and, at the last meeting of the CounciJ of Government, two extensive schemes for irrigation in the windward and leeward districts of the Island were discussed, the Colonial Secretary reading a re­ port thereon to the members of the board. Year ending Year end­ Nov. 22, 1877 ing Dec. 31 £ s, d, s. d. There can be little doubt, from the attitude of Go­ do 1878 1874157 5 0 vernment in reference to the proposed enterprises, do 1879 187' 5111 3 that the question of irrigation on a large scale, ap­ 1876 380 5 2 jl plied to the culture of sugarcane, will soon be 1877 377 4 1 practically solved here. It has been remarked, and 187* — 507 11 9 probably correctly, I hat however unsuccessful irriga­ 1879 — 1407 13 8 tion schemes have been in other countries, where the agricultural produce was of less value than our Better by far tbat he build his “ Lanka Villa,” invest staple, our colo ists should not take such results as his money in house property that yields a certain conclusive for the non-adoption of similar enterprises income of 5 to 10%, anil live at home at ease. Agri­ here. In proof of this, it may be mentioned that culture will right itself when Government gets time irrigation to a by no means unimportant extent, to enact laws to facilitate the sale and transfer of land. has already been carried out with considerable financial Good seasons alone will not suffice in the altered state success on some of our most prosperous estates. M a u r i t i u s . —The subject of ostrich farming is causing letter I maintained and proved successfully by docu­ some interest here, this species of industry having been mentary evidence that all green tea is artificially introduced by one of our wealthy landed proprietors, coloured. Mr. ChtSry Lignard, who imported several pairs of “ The four samples of green tea in the office” may bin's from Arabia and the Cape. These ostriches be passed over. They are probably pure underfer­ have already hatched broods ; and, as there is plenty mented teas. Other statements and assertions in Mr. of barren land on the coast of the island, it is prob­ Evertrd’s letter are simply unsupported, and cannot able that, befoie many years pass over our heads, rest for a moment against the positive documentary ostr’ch farming will be one of the “ things that be” evidence I adduce to the contrary. Further, he must in Mauritius. The Cape papers are eagerly searched show better authority than his own for doubting by our Creole and French colonists for items in re­ scientific investigation, and I see at once that to gard to the rearing and sale of ostriches &c., and a Mr. Everard’s scepticism on this point is due the translation in French, from a Natal paper, has just lamentable ignorance he displays in discussing this been published in the Cemten, our leading French tea question. If he had any knowledge of the manu­ journal, reporting the sale of some pairs of these facture of tea—and there are plenty of works on the birds at from 50 to 87£ guineas per pair.—Cor. subject—he would not have asserted that “ withered, tea leaves were sent home,’" because all tea is withered in the first process of manufacture, and it is a most PLANTING IN FIJI. unlikely fact that any tea planter would have exported A correspondent (“ Pioneer ”) favours us with the his produce at this htage. following :— VVanklyn on tea analyses clearly and scientifically “ I heai d from a friend in Fiji the other day, who proves how easy it is to tell the true tea leaf by its writes :—‘The prospects of coffee do not seem very botanical character, from all other leaves. Again, brilliant in Fiji at present. I have heard nothing the true tea-leaf is noted by its extraordinary richness of the result of the experiment on Great Amalgam, in nitrogen over all other leaves. but am afraid it has not been successful, as one would The ash of tea, remaining after incineration of the have heard if the disease had been checked. leaf, is another good test, and tables given by lead­ “ Stephens has gone to another coffee plantation ing analysts are a pretty certain guide to the detection on the island of Taviuni. The owner of Great of adul eration. Amalgam lately sent in a claim of £20,000 to the Perhaps the extract of tea, or that part drunk in Government for damage done to his estate during the the infusion or cup of tea, is the most important* treatment by the Government. The matter has been and no tea should fall below 30 (the standard at home). referred to arbitration, and has not been settled yet. Some of the Indian and Ceylon teas go io 52. This “ There was a man of the name of Lanyon down extract contains tho easential oil or flavour which here, three weeks ago, engaging natives to work on pleases the palate; and the active principle, theine a cocoa plantation, which he is opening on the island (tasteless), which mostly invigorates the diiuker. of Vanua Lovu. He has been in Fiji for nine years I think it will now be perfectly clear to the intel­ and was one of the first to grow coffee here. He was ligent reader that the analytical chemist should be in Ceylon before that. He is very despondent about the best judge of what is wholsome to the tea-drinker the prospects of coffee in Fiji. and that “ wattlebark'’ would be instantly detected “ Cinchona is being planted by two or three men. by such a judge, however much Mr. Evevard might Copperah, cotton and sugar are the main products of disguise the same in his samples of tea. Fiji, and the export of the fhst and last will very The tea-‘aster is probably the best authority on largely increase when the wide acreage of coconuts the flavour of tea, and in a ready way can give an planted within the preceding five years comes into opinion on the leaf and strength, but beymd. this ho bearing, and when the three large new sugar mills cannot go. now being put on Viti Leva are crushing to their full Messrs. Cosmo Newbery and Dunn must have pow er."’ aualysed some 500 samples of tea, and they may be considered first-class analysts of this product, and their efforts to raVe the standard of tea used by the CEYLON 'TEA IN MELBOURNE. community should have the support of all tea mer­ Mr. Hector Mackenzie advises having sold the chants and others connected with the trade. The Kandaloya estate “ pekoes ” in Melbourne at Is lOd Chinese are masters of the situation We can only per lb., the pekoe souchong at Is 3d, and dust at take what they will give us, and they are perfect lo he roots at any time <>f the year, and in baskets made fr< m the stalk, and it is possible that if the cane they are safe at almost any time, if subsequent refuse wej e collected and made out here into 6 half- shading be properly attended to. Plants in baskets, stock,’ a large demand might arise from it in Europe.” however, have the disadvantage of requirit g an Dr. Balfour adds:—“ In conclusion the efforts made amount of care and labour in shading and water­ in India to introduce the ‘ sorgho/ great as they ing altogether unnecessary in the case of plants may seem, are slight compared with those of the in the ground. A few hours of hot sun a»»d dry United States Agricultural Department when they have wind parches the earth contained in the baskets, a new plant to establish ; and as the farmers of the and in dry weather watering must go on eon- States have found it a profitable crop, it is reason­ tinuall)', and shading must be done in the last able to suppose that the ryots of British India should resort, though not to be prescribed except when the also be able to cultivate with even larger profits.” well goes dry—an event which has taken place here, towards every evening, for the last week. NEW PRODUCTS IN CEYLON: LOW-COUNTRY After the Liberian coffee plant has tw > pair of leaves, REPORT. it enjoys all the sun it can catch, so long as it can DROUGHT—CRICKETS AND LEAF DISEASE— USE OF BASKETS draw on the soil its roots occupy for the necessary IN PLANTING OUT— TIIE GIGANTIC VAIilETY OP LIBE­ supply of moisture ; the moment the moisture fails it RIAN CoFFVK THE LEAST SATISFACTORY OF ALL— begins to droop and if not quickly attended to will die. DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL. The blo-eom on the older trees due a month ago W e s t e r n P r o v in c e , 31st J u l y 1SS1. s inggled out on several occasions, but the greater In my last report, I professed to have had suffici­ part of the promise remains unfulfilled, and will con­ ent rain for my purposes up to that date. But since tinue to be till rain conies. In the case of almost every then there has been none, and for the last ten days one of the remaining two year trees,during the last few the nsual cloudy July weather has given place to months, the stem has run up, two, three, and even bright sunshine, »nd intense heat, alternated with pass­ s x pair of leaves without a branch. This is the true ing clouds, carried forward on the wings of a ckilliug habit of the tree variety, but even the best behaved breeze that feels as if it went to the very marrow hitherto have run up from nine inches to two feet of the bones. In consequence of thos>* sudden cbnnges of stem without a branch. and this has h.-ppened at of temperature, there has been a good deal of semi-sick­ all the various heights attained, from three to six ness among t- e coolies. Nothing very serious, but feet. Since the rapid growth has in some meisure enough to make all but the old well-seasoned hands ceased, they are again getting into regular habits. shirk the aft-rnonn sun, and the chitling blad< The One of the correspondents of the Obsei'ver complained wind blows stiffly for e-ght hours daily, and is of lately that he had been deceiv d in the seed supplied an extremely dry. searching quality that finds its to his order, because the whole did not turn out of way it.to the most sheltered nooks, and wheels rvuud the gigantic variety. So far as my present experience the most intrusive corners. carries me, I am inclined to think the gigantic Hitherto, the coffee plants put out in the early variety the Last satisfactory of all. It rm s vapidly part of the month have suffered nothing, but they up to four or five feet and produces one pair of branches will have to bo looked to in the way of additional shadi-, up the stem ; runs another foot and produces a single if this w«iathtr continues for a few days more. The one ; and so it goes on. till at seven feet it has not older coffee plants seem to grow even better for the seven branches. It was not the size of the Liberian dry we.ther, bowing their heads at the bidding of coffie that first called my attention to it, but the the wind bu assuming their natural position when tact that it would flourish and be productive in a it ceases. At this stage of growth, th«-y are v ry t mperature ten degree-* higher than suited the Arabian much given to throw out numerous suckers near th-* k'ad. I do not care for the size of the tree. A giant ground, which require a good deal 01 trimming, hut or a dwarf variety are all the same to me, if only this habit ciases when they begin to branch, which they can be profitably cultivated, where the known is generally at from fifteen inches to two feet. and tested variety fails. I have devoted the fag etid The plants cut by the last hatching of crickets are of the longest consecutive planting career in Ceylon to coming 011 (that is to say those cut above the buds), the developemeut of this plant, in a small section of but they are a long way behind those that escaped, country, with a peculiar climate, and so far, through many disappointments, I am satisfied with the results. “ The subject of adulteration has been much before To naturalize an exotic, tin soil and climate closely the public at home during the past few months; resembling those of its habitat, should be a com­ partly, no doubt, owing to the boldness with which paratively easy task ; but when we carry it into a the promoters of the Date Coffee Company have ad­ region where it "would be impossible for it to vertized their scheme ; and as you are doubtless aware, maintain a permanent footing without human aid, more than one journal has been threatened with pro­ we require to watch its habits, and study its wants, ceedings for boldly expressing opinions affecting the with unwinking vigilance, and every one for character of the above iniquitous concern. himself: for, in this land of Ceylon, the experi­ “ Isay, therefore, that a more fitting time than just ence acquired in one quarter may be of little use now for the presentation of such a memorial, it in another not very remote. The distribution of would have been impossible to select. rainfall, which varies from 31 inches at Mannar to “ The Chairman of the P. A. has done his duly : the 250 at Padupola, shows too remote extremes for any Observer has done its duty. To them both, as a unit one species of plant to flourish in both places. Indeed, of the planting community and a member of that As­ it is questionable whether any profitable cultivation sociation to which I used to consider it an honour can be conducted in the neighbourhood of either. to belong, I desire to tender my thanks, and to the My own experience in the cultivation of Arabian coffee, former my sympathy that his labour should be so within a mile of the Ceylon waterpot, was not by little appreciated. I fear that the opposition to the any means satisfactory, but it is said tea is succeed­ memorial has been prompted by the same petty j 'alous ing in that vicinity. There is sufficient choice of spirit, which caused the P. A to reject the medical locality between the two extremes, and in the Pasdun aid scheme drafted by the Chamber of Commerce last Korale, with its 150 inches of rainfall, Liberian coffee year. seems to have found a congenial home, but the chief “ The enclosed cutting from a London paper of to-day’s question now to be settled is how far the cultivation date will show you that, the Date Coffee Company at can be pushed into the drier districts, with a fair ar.y rate is looking after Us interests with some energy chance of success. At what measure of rainfall will however base those interests may be we be forced to draw the line? Nor is this the sole ‘T h e D a t e C o f f e e C o m p a n y R e po p.t . question to be settled. There are tracts of good land, in districts w here the annual rainfall would be ample, The Second Ordinary General Meeting of the Date if well distributed over the year. It then is an Coffee Company was held yesterday in the Great important fact still to be tested : how long can the Hall of the Canuon-street Hotel, Henry Haymen, Esq., Liberian coffee plant endure, without permanent injury, in the Chair. deprivation of rain ? I cannot from my own experience T he C h a i r m a n , —Gentlemen, the Secretary will read throw much light on this point, as I have not been tried the notice convening the meeting. with more than thirty days, since I had to deal with Mr. T. Fortescue Haymen (Secretary) read the well grounded plants, but in the land I have to notice. work a plant of six months can stand a month not T he C h a ir m a n . — W ill y o u take the Report a s read, only without injury but with advantage. At the or h a v e it read ? same time, I must admit that I have seen a well The Report W'as taken as read. branched plant, five feet high, with a heavy crop, T he C h a i r m a n :—Gentlemen, I will commence the pro­ droop in a bright afternoon, with only fourteen dry ceedings to-day (and I will detain you but a very few days behind it. moments) with the formation of the Company. We August 3rd. have so many new shareholders come into the Com­ On the 31st we had a few light showers, and the pany within the past few months who are constantly like on the 1st, but it was at 4 a. m. on the 2nd we asking questions ; and I think therefore we shall take began to get real rain. We have a right to expect this opportunity of endeavouring to place before you more or less rain late in July or early in August, a short resumiS of the Company’s affairs from the first and on this occasion we are not disappointed. day it started until now, Thom who remember the The first cricket work of the season appeared on first prospectus of the Company, and the figures which the morning of the 1st iu the cutting of two coffee were then put before the public, will recollect that seedlings in the nursery. It is a month earlier than we stated to you upon a make of 40 tons per week, I expected them, but it is to be hoped that an early we could return a profit of 100 per cent. Works have entry will precede an early exit. I do not much since that date been established at Kurrachee, in India. like their first appearance among the plants in baskets, We have been enabled to show yon by the actual making where the plants have been comparatively safe on of the Coffee the price at which it can be manu­ former occasions. Curious that the breed should have factured, and we know also the price at which it can such a hold on this place, and nowhere else within be sold. During the last few months you will have my bounds of ken. noticed that we have been enabled to considerably in­ 9th August. crease the quantity, and by the last letter from the More or less rain daily ; rained all day on Sunday; manager in Kurrachee we are informed that the first of planting out with fear and trembling. the sets of ovens, dispatched to increase the quantity, will be erected within the week, and I think I am justified in saying that by the end of August we shall be iu a position to put out close upon 40 tons per COFFEE ADULTERATION AND THE PLANTERS’ week, (cheers). So much for the question of manu­ ASSOCIATION. facture. The accounts before you show most clearly A Ceylon estate proprietor now at home writes :— that we can manufacture at the price we originally “ London, 15th July 1881.—I must send you a few lines anticipated, and there can be no question cf doubt to express the disgust I feel at the reception accorded about it selling at the price we thought, and if so we to the proposed memorial against coffee adulteration shall realise the profit also we anticipated. We will at the meeting of the Planters’ Association last month. now take you a step further with respect to what “ Luke warmness or faint-heartedness in such a cause, has taken place since we had the pleasure of meeting it is, perhaps, possible to understand. But, opposition in January of this year. All sorts of rumours and from the planters to their best interests, and without statements have been made, most of which I have met the slightest show of rhyme or reason ! ! No wonder, with statements from the chair at the various meetings that Mr. Wall lost heart and would fain have thrown of the Company which have been called during that up the thing in despair. time. You have also been informed an attempt was marie to get an injunction against this Company, anil would take, and which I feel certain will be as sa­ thereby stop its proceedings. Those who have watched tisfactory to you as it will be to the Board of Di­ the papers will have noticed that the case was set rectors (cheers). Before I sit down I should like to down fur hearing today. The case came on before the say' that if, in defending the Company against these Vic -Chancell ir to-day, and with the following, which peculiar attacks which have been made upon it, I I think will be a most gratifying, result to tire share­ have personally in any way given offence to any one holders. It bears out on the face of it, I may say, in connection with it, it was simply done as a all you have been led to suppose, and it puts an end matter of duty in defending your interest. Courtesy once and for all to all questions of litigation, and is the style which I should always like to deal places the Company in the position it was in—in fact in, and if in any way I have trodden upon any one in a better position than it was in before these pro­ in connection with it, I trust, as litigation has ceased, ceedings commenced (hear, hear). I will read you what all ill-feeling has ceased, and that we shall go on took place:—“ The Plaintiffs having since the com­ carrying out the programme which we have laid mencement of the action made inquiries and had an down, and that we shall see by the balance opportunity of investigating the Defendants’ patent and sheets of this and the other Companies, that the their mode of manufacture, an I, being satisfied that it Date Coffee Company and the subsidiary Companies is not an infringement, desire to withdraw from the will all pay very large dividends, and be of that com­ proceedings, each party paying their own costs. To mercial value which, from the first, I have predicted pnt an end to the possibility of further litigation and (cheers). With these few remarks I formally move competition, the Plaintiffs have agreed to dispose of the adoption of the report and accounts ; my friend their Patent to the Defendant Company for a small sum Lord Poulett will second that, and I will sit down which scarcely covers the amount paid by the Plaintiffs, to give any shareholder an opportunity' to put any in the belief that Montoison’s Patent was the sole one question which he may be inclined to ask. capable of being upheld for this manufacture, and both The Right Honourable Earl Poulett.—I beg to second parties now ask the Court to direct an Order in the Mr. Haymen’s statement. terms of this arrangement, which is embodied in an The Chairman (after a pause), said,—As no share­ agreement dated the 6th day' of June, I SSI.” That, holder has any question to put, I will put the ques­ gentlemen, has passed by an Order of the Court ; we are tion—that the report and accounts be received and now once more perfectly free from litigation, and we adopted. Those in favour of that will signify the start on the commencement of what we term a new same in the usual manner. iinancial year, free from all disturbances of a legal The resolution was carried unanimously'. nature (chcrs). I think, as many of you arc in­ The Chairman.—The next question is the re-election terested, and u< the Parent Company is interested in of Auditors, which I will propose, and which I will the French Company, I should state to you that we are ask some shareholder to second; it is as much a proceeding now rapidly to the completion of the French Shareholder’s question as a Director’s, in fact, more works. We had ail interview with our commercial so. I therefore beg to propose that Messrs. Fred. manager in Paris yesterday. I do not think it would Maynard & Co. be re-elected Auditors, and perhaps be wise to go into figures with you at this meeting, but some shareholder will kindly second that. 1 may tell you that there is not the slightest shadow of a Mr. Barton.—I will second that. doubt that the prices which have been arranged at which The resolution was carried. the coffee can be sold in Paris, and the price at which it The Chairman.—That, gentlemen, concludes the busi­ can be manufactured, will lead to such profits to the ness of the meeting; but perhaps you will allow me French Date Coffee Company that the prospectus, as to state once again my entire confidence in the success originally i-ued to the shareholders will be more of the Company, and I am confident that before the than fully carried out (cheers). With respect to the close of this year we shall be calling you together German Date Coffee Company, the position of affairs for that happy sort of meeting in order that we shall is simply this: By the commencement of August propose a dividend to you (cheers). we shall be in a position to sell our Coffee. We A i-hareholder.—If I am in order, I should like to have entered into a provisional arrangement with a ask one question. very large merchant in Germany to undertake the The Chairman.—I will answer any question. sole sale of the manufactured Coffee there at a price The Shareholder.—[ do not know why the Govern­ considerably in excess of the price which we thought ment charge us 2d. a lb., and why coffee and chicory satisfactory in this country, and at a price which are admitted at l jcl. per lb. I have made a calculation will leave very large profits to that Company. Now, on the basis of 40 tons per week, and I find it makes gentlem n, as we are more free, we shall be able in a difference in the year of 10,0006 in the profits of a very short time to bring before you our American the Company. and Spanish and our other Patents (hear, hear). From The Chairman.—It is impossible to ask the Govern­ Spain we have most satisfactory intelligence, after ment why they charge it. They charge it to us on ground tasting the Coffee, that there will be a very, very coffee and the berry. If ground coffee is brought to large trade indeed. The documents are all being trans­ this country it is charged 2d per lb. lated into Spanish. A certain amount of time must Mr. Frost.—What is the nature of the opposition to take place before we can bring these matters before the German Patent ? you in the shape of a prospectus, but at a very The Chairman.—I think it would be unwise to say. early date we shall do so. The United States Com­ We are not a German meeting. pany is also progressing very satisfactorily. Ar­ The Shareholder.—The result is, that we have not rangements, or, rather, communications, have taken had any bonus from the German Patent. place with very eminent firms abroad, and I have The Chairman.—I do not think it would be wise to no doubt that wTe shall be speedily enabled to place make the statement. that before yon (cheers). With regard to Belgium The Auditor. —I am much obliged to you, gentlemen, and other places we are in a similar position. And for re-electing me auditor, and I congratulate you on now, as I said before, we are once more free, and being shareholders in so prosperous a Company. all litigation is at an end; and I feel certain every day The Chairman.—That concludes the business of the more and more, that everything which has been m eeting. said to you from the Chair from the time we started Mr. Maitland.—I think, gentlemen, before we separate up to the present time will be more than fully realised, we should propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman. and the Parent Company w ill take that position which Mr. Pittman. —I beg to second that. in the month of January it was pointed out that it The motion was carried, The Chairman,—Well, gentlemen, on behalf of my “ CHICK COFFEE ” AND PLANTING PRO­ colleagues and myself, and my worthy friend the soli­ SPECTS IN COORG. citor—I must inelmde him ; he gets the blame if there is any blame, and he should have some of the praise— S o u t h C o o r g , 1st August.—In the June number of we are very much obliged to you. We have tried to th e 'Tropical Agriculturi. t at page 15, you recommend deserve your confidence. I think we have shown we the trial of new seed coffee and mention that of have managed your affairs at all events with zeal, and Coorg as “ Chick Coffee,” which, if not a “ goak ” if there have been errors, they are errors which any at our expense, I shall be glad if you will correct, one might have committed. If you are firm in hold­ ing to your properly as we will hold the reins of j The Coorg tree is very different from the Chick, which management, I feel more and more convinced, as I told j is an imported one from Mysore and very like what you before, there is not a single shareholder in this Ceylon planters call the “ male tree.” To it we owe Association who will not have reason as years go by, j much of the loss by borer and I may safely say leaf whether I am in the chair or anywhere else, to feel j and other diseases inherent to coffee. It only gives that he has got an investment which he can count j a crop once in three years and then ripens at all upon as a safe investment from time to time to those j sorts of times, so that much is lost on the ground who may follow him. I hope and trust we shall be and to this fact I attribute the large numbers of epared many, many years, in order to meet you from these trees to be found on every old esiate, which time to time, and to prove by the distribution of were invariably planted from seedling plants from under dividends that the faith you have had iu the Directors the trees instead of from plants raised from carefully of this Company has not been misplaced (cheers). picked seed of the Coorg tree, which came from I thank you cordially for the vote of thanks and for West Coorg and is known amongst old planters to your confidence to day. this day as the Nalkenaad tree. If you recommend The meeting then broke up. ’ this to your readers, they will benefit, by the change. The monsoon is still very light here. I have only had 8’13 inches of rain for July against 10'84, the F ro m t h e L o n d o n “ T i m e s ” o f J u l y 13. average for past five years, and 21T4 against 34 002 for H i g h C o u r t o f J u s t ic e : C h a n c e r y D i v i s i o n . the seven months. ( B e f o r e V ic e C h a n c e l l o r H a l l . ) Plants are drooping in old coffee and clearings, C a r d e w v . T h e D a t e C o f f e e C o m pa n y ( L i m i t e d .) Iu this action, which was for a supposed infringe­ and enquiries are being made on every side for plants. ment of Montoison’s Patent for Date Coffee, counsel Labor supply, which three years ago was short, has this morning stated on behalf of the plaintiffs that, yearly been increasing and now the cry is “ W hat am having since the commencement of the action had an I to do with my coolies ?” This (where funds are avail­ opportunity of investigating the defendants’ Patent and able) is easily settled as South Coorg is intersected their mode of manufacture, the plaintiffs had satisfied with swamps which are mines of manurial wealth in themselves that there had been no infringement, and themselves (when properly treated) and lime and accordingly an arrangement had been entered into bones are readily procurable at reasonable rates to that the plaintiffs should sell their Patent to the mix with this ; and I doubt not that your Ceylon defendants for a sum which would cover the amount men can testily to the benefits derivable from bulky they had paid for it, in the belief that it was the manures when the bulk is on the spot, and merely sole one which could be upheld, and that all pro­ wants to be carried a few yards to the trees. ceedings iu the action should bo stayed, each party The great want in this district is field surveys and paying their own costs. a regular system of recorded manuring. At present, Mr. Northmove Lawrence appeared for the plaintiffs; I could point to dozens of estates where the same Mr. Pollard and Mr. Buckley for the defendants. fields are manured year after year, with resultant loss to the proprietors. Nearly all of them spend large Specimen of Advertising ■ sums for manures, yet very few can be induced to The Date Coffee may be obtained through any spend the sum of one rupee an acre for a detailed map Grocer or Chemist. Ask for Date Coffee, and see of their estates, which, on an average, would not amount that you get it. The Date Coffee, mixed ready for to more than R150 each, and which would, in one year, use, in 1-lb. tins, Is. and Is. 6d. per lb. save more than the cost of the map, by enabling Fure Date Coffee, Is. per lb., in Lie. tins.—This V. A.’s to check the various works in progress and will bo improved by adding one teaspoonful of coffee save many a Chick Dhorie from a “ stinker” as welL to three of pure Date Coffee, four teaspooufuls of the T h u s we swallowr whales and strain at gnats in ‘‘ th e mixture being sufficient to make a pint of coffee. Bam boo.” The Date Coffee Company (Limited).—John M'Tag. garo and Co., Wholesale Agents, 2, Denman-street, , London, S. E., to whom all communi s- Effects of M anures upon Foliage. —A very in­ tions with reference to selling coffee should be addressed. teresting example of the diverse results obtained in The Date Coffee Company (Limited).—Medical and density of colour in the foliage of the Potato plant Press Opinions can be obtained of the Secretary, 125 through the use of diverse manures may now be seen to 131, Palmerston-buildings, Old Broad-street, Lon­ at the Bedfout seed ground, where Mr. Dean is carry­ don, ti. 0. ing out some simple trials. Pliosphatic manures, The Date Coffee.—One pound of Date Coffee will designed specially to assist in the promotion of make as much coffee as two pounds of ordinary tubers, not only do so, but also excite or stimulate coffee. Consequently, Date Coffee at Is. per lb. is earlier and more robust growth, whilst the normal tint only equal to tid. per lb. of the foliage remains. Nitrogenous manures prepared for cereal and bulbous root crops, on the other hand, Our correspondent adds:— produce stems of a stouter kind, and foliage so dark “ We are having a tremendously hot summer. The in hue that but for assured certainty on the part fceat, I think, is greater than 1 ever remember to of the planter it would scarcely be credited that the have experienced it in England. Now-a-days it is not rows of Potatos were of one and the same kind. Even considered in fra dig. or effeminate for a man to use more interest will perhaps attach to the appearance of an umbrella as a protection from the sun. The example those rows, the ground being poor, to which no is no doubt set by Anglo-Indians, who have long con­ manure was applied. Compared with these, the man­ quered any squeamishness on the subject, and others ured rows, even now, indicate that more than double are often only too glad to follow suit.” the produce will result,— Gardeners' Chronicle. T h e S a r r a c e n ia s or side-saddle flowers, better known N il g t r is . —Up to date it may be considered that as pitcher plants, and that have long been grown in the monsoon rains have disastrously failed throughout hot houses for the sake of their pitchers, are now found the plateau; the July rainfall has been exceedingly to be well worth cultivating on account of the size and scanty compared with the fall of the same month in beauty of their flowers, Messrs, Bull, Williams, previous ordinary years. The scarcity of rain gives the Veitch, and others have furnished th e'fiardencrs’ Chron­ country a parched appearance, aud estate operations icle with specimens of flowers, some of which have are retarded. Native cultivation in parts is considered been figured and described in that journal. The)' are even at present to be a failure past recovery, while in said to be magnificent flowers, and the use of this other parts rain within the next week may save some superlative is, no doubt, fully justified so far as size of the standing crops, and produce a scanty yield. and singularity of form are concerned. The colours, Many of the coffee and tea estates have suffered from however, appear to be dull.—Australasian. the season, and crops, which looked favorable a fort­ night ago, are jeopardized, by the rain holding off. On T h e “ T. A .”— W e have received a copy of the Tropical tea estates the flush is not coming out with the Agriculturist, a monthly record of information for planters desired rapidity. Appearances are in favor of a change of coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, palms and other products for the better, and the knowing ones predict copious suited for cultivation iu the tropics. The contents of showers within a week. The South-West wind has the number before us, which is issued from the Ceylon almost cleared within the past week or ten days, and Observer Press, show that great pains have been this augurs a fresh burst.— South o f In d ia Observer. bestowed upon the compilation of the publication, and we have no doubt that it will secure a large consti­ M e r c a r a , 23rd July.—For rice cultivation in tuency not only in Ceylon but in the large planting Coorg this year has been very favourable, and districts of Coorg, Mysore, &c. Much of the informa­ the ryots have availed themselves of it to the tion published in the Tropical Agriculturist appears in utmost by ploughing up disused rice fields, and the daily issue of the Ceylon Obsiner.— Madras Standard. using them for the coming crop. With the im­ mense natural reservoirs of water, always on hand, T h e “T. A.”—A new monthly publication has been more land could be utilised for rice than is the case, started in Ceylon, called The Tropical Ayricidturist. I t is for the fields in most cases are continuations of steps published at the office of the Ceylon Observer and consists at the bottom of declivities, with ever flowing streams chiefly of extracts judiciously selected from that paper from above, which could be turned on the land at and from the Indian, Home, and Colonial, journals. The will : there is rice growing here at an elevation of present preliminary issue, the conductors say, cannot 4,100 feet. There is also a good prospect of a rich crop be taken as a fair specimen of what will follow', and of cardamoms, there having been a very fair flowering, it will be their endeavour to find a place in the pages of and a genial season afterwards; the cardamom pods The Tropical Agriculturist for everything bearing on now half-grown and well forward. The prices still the practical work of a tropical planter. We hope continue high, fetching five shillings and sixpence the present attempt to supply a want which has long for some parcels shipped to England in March. been felt in Ceylon will meet with success.— M adras A parcel of cinchona bark (succirubra) sent home Athenaeum. a month previously, and stripped from trees thirteen R a p i d C u r e f o r F o o t-a n d -M o u t h D is e a s e i n years old, grown at 3,700 feet elevation, only sold at C a t t l e .-—A very rapid cure of the foot-and-mouth the average price of one shilling and five pence half­ disease in cattle is said to have been discovered by penny . the highest fetching 2s. 2d.—the lowest rate the Duke of Brunswick. He uses a solution of 9d. a pound.—Madras Standard. salicylic acid, prepared by pouring some hot water on T h e “ T r o p ic a l A griculturist .” —The above is the about three tablespoonfuls of the acid in an earthen title of a new monthly issued from the Observer office. vessel, adding lukeworm water to make up a gallon. It is edited by the enterprising Messrs. Ferguson, of The mouth and feet of the diseased animal should th e Ceylon Observer and the object of the publication be carefully washed three times a day with this liquid, is to furnish planters, for easy reference with informa­ and the tops of the hoofs well powdered with the tion of coffee, tea, cocoa, cinchona, sugar, palms aud dry acid alter each washing. To the drinking-water other products suited for cultivation in the tropics. should be added two tablespoonfuls of the acid dis­ The contents consist of editorial correspondence ex­ solved in hot water. —Family Herald. tracts and miscellaneous notes. The articles are IIedgf, Plants.— One prominent name is that of written iu a clear business like style and contain very R. Hornsby & Son (Limited) whose liedgecutting useful information. Replete as they are with figures, machine I saw at Kyneton trimming a furze fence we have learnt many new things from them. The beautifully. One horse pulled the machine on one correspondence is very properly confined to matters of side of the hedge, and by merely adjusting the guillotine- planting importance such as coffee leaf disease, tobacco like shears both sides aud the top were trimmed. The cultivation, &e. The extracts comprise very useful use of this machine removes the one objection to what selections from home, Indian and Ceylon papers, bear­ in Scotland we call “ wliins.” The plant, if left to ing ample evidence to the facts that the Editors itself, blossoms so as to compete with ihe most brilliant kuow what planters of the tropics want. Every page of the Australian acacias,—indeed it is difficult at a affords pleasing proofs of the ability, and the exten­ short distance to distinguish the introduced gorse from sive knowledge brought to beir upon the new venture. the native “ wattles.” The seed is in proportion to We have read it witli great interest and have no the blossom. It is far more lasting as a hedge than hesitation in saying that every planter who monthly the Kangaroo acacia, and its only rivals are the invests a rupee in it will ultimately find the money not English “ May” thorn, or hawthorn, and the Cape mis-applied and that the publication itself is a mine box thorn. The latter, with its formidable spikes, is of useful information evidently worth more than its getting into favour. If only the furze can be kept present price. Satisfactory as is the Agriculturist, well- rimmed, it makes a perfect hedge and a good there is still a want, which we feel sure requires only breakwind, a fact which I recommend to the attention to be pointed out to be remedied. Native agriculture of planters in the neighbourhood of Nuwara Eliya, docs not se in to receive sufficient attention in its where “ whins” and “ the lang yellow broom” flourish pages. That natives are more largely interested in aide by side with rich flowered fuschias and brilliant planting than a quarter century ago is undeniable. scarlet rhododendrons. The trimmings of a furze hedge The products cultivated by them are tobacco, coconut thoroughly qruized, could be utilized as fodder for vanilla, pine-npple, grapes, mango, paddy cereals, &c. horses or cattle. —Jaffna Patriot. spondent’s question as to whether this is jute, I may gloiitiespondenoe. reply that though a very common Indian fibre it is not jute, which is the produce of Corchorus capsularis To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. and C. olitorius."—E d .] CINCHONA STUMPS vs. PLANTS IN DRY WEATHER. RATTANS FOR MATTING. A ugust 4th, 1881. Ratnapura, August 6th, 1881. D ea r Sir ,—I t has been a matter of surprise to D e a r S i r , —Can you inform me whether the same me, especially after this unusual spell of fine weather, description of rattan cane as is used by the Malays with newly planted cinchonas dying right and left, in the manufacture of matting, chairs etc., is to be that notice has not been made by any one in your found in Ceylon, and if so where plants can be columns hitherto, as to the very great superiority of cin­ procured ? Rattan cane of a very inferior kind is chona stumps to plants, especially the small fry so found in the jungles of this district; so that cane named ! I speak from experience. When plants were of the better description ought to be easily grown. dying all round, the stumps put out throve without —Yours, NEW PRODUCTS. exception, growing more vigorously than the plants [W. F. reports :—“ There are seven species of rattans that survived, giving to the clearing, I believe, in growth, indigenous to Ceylon : some very stout, and long, and the full benefit of their additional age. They are less others very like the common rattans used for matting, liable to the attacks of grub and other insects, and chairs, couches &c., some of which were extensively insure an even clearing, and save much loss in plants sent from the Southern Province some years ago, and and supplying. Let any of your readers who have not are no doubt still used by Sumps for the various done so try, and they will not be disappointed in the re­ uses to which rattans are put. These plants, Calamus, sults, but some extra care in removal and planting are not uncommon in various parts of Ceylon, and is necessary to prevent the bigger roots from being are no doubt collected for local use, but your corre­ broken and damaged.—Yours truly, STUMPS. spondent’s trite remark that “ rattan cane of a very inferior kind is found in the jungles of this district, so that cane of the better descriptions ought to be CASUARINAS AT A HIGH ELEVATION NO GOOD; easily grown,” reminds me of Pat’s remark, “ No C. URITUSINGA (OR CON DA MINE A) IN wonder that this place is called Stoney Batter, for DIMBULA. for I was never so bitten with fleas in my life.”] Langdale, 6th Aug. 1881, D e a r Sir, —Casuarinas are no good at this elevation, 4,600 feet. I grew one certainlv fur 10 years, and THE EDUCATION OF THE COFFEE TREE probably longer, and it measured, when cut down, about —PRUNING. 13 iuches diameter at ground and only 9" at 3' 3" Coppa Kauur District, Mysore Provinces, high. You would not get much timber if this .is a 20th July 1881. fair growth, for this includes birk, which is thick, D e a r S i r , —In the interest of a large and influential and you would have to wait longer than most men community busily engaged in “ coffee planting,” I could afford, to get even this. solicit space, in your most invaluable journal for Then as to Mr. Deane-Drake’s cinchonas: is the “ coffee planters,” to place one subject above all measurement given correct ? To me it seems there is others most prominently for the best consideration some error, for I have a tree, I think, of the same of one and all. kind, but 2 years older, and it only measures l‘7Jin It is not within my province to say anything— circumference at ground, but it is 1-5J at 5 feet high, beyond this— of the present industry and how it while the height is about the same as Mr. Drake’s tree, has been executed. It is enough for me to know 22 feet.—Yours faithfully, E. H. and say that from “ Laborie” to “Hints and Wrinkles,” every information, as far as their researches and experiences warranted, have been duly placed before “ HIBISCUS CANNABINUS. ” us, and they are all entitled to a universal acknow­ D e a r S i r ,—I send by this post a box, containing ledgment, and at least the warmest and most hearty the flower, seed-vessel, and stem of a plant, from thanks. which the coolies say twine and sacks are manufact­ There can be no doubt that “ coffee planting ” ured on the coast. It is commonly grown in the has had all the advantages of superior intellects and in­ line gardens, as the leaves are used for curries. Can telligences, and deep study also from the most different you tell me if it is jute ’—Yours faithfully, W. B. H . points of view by men of known talent and ability : [Our correspondent \V. F. reports as follows:— add to which the exercises of the many with the “By a singular coincidence your packet of specimens, two most valuable and necessary ingredients “ capi­ and a notice of contributions to the Colombo Museum tal ” and “ self-interest.” These two, one can easily in your issue of the 9th August, have reached me conceive passible, would only go in for “ results. ” at the same time. The specimens from your corre­ But, notwithstanding all this, I believe —and I am spondent ‘ W. B. H.’ and the donation of cord from sure others will be found to agree with me in this th e fibre pulac i keri (? pwchcy keery, Tamil) from belief—that the education of the coffee plant is not Mr. P. N. Braine have reached me at the same time, p-rfection, and it will be found that there are many and I have no doubt they refer to the fibre of the matters requiring very, very serious consideration. same plant, viz., that of the Hibiscus cannabinus, Surely, your kindest of journals is open to have every or Hemp-leaved Hibiscus. The stems of this plant one’s view most openly placed, fairly to be examined, furnish abundant fibre in various parts of India, and duly criticised, and ultimately “ admitted ” or “ re­ its eaves are m general u-e as an excellent vegetable jected” of course, by a competent body, capable of (Tam il, keeri), and taste something like sorrel. The undertaking the responsibiliiies of a close examination plant is very commonly planted in the gardens near of the different subjects aud scientifically deciding coolv lines in Ceylon, and it is not ;an uncommon thereon. roadside plant in the island, but it is not a native I write scientifically, because I believe in science of Gey Ion, though the Flora oj British India, I, and my knowledge is that she rejects anything that p. 339, refers to Thwaites’ Enum. 26 erroneously cannot be proved. However, ignorant a man there­ where it does not occur. In reply to your corre- fore may be, it is quite possible that he may have '73 practically stumbled on perhaps the most intricate 1 “ Can neither be perplexed nor intricate theoretical subject and by placing his views for a “ If such happen to be the unintentional effects of scientific understanding thereof he may even assist | Art, art must redress them.” Surely, our doings of those gigantic minded bodies, the “ hem” of whose removals of upwards, downwards, backwards, and mantle he may not deem himself worthy to touch-, suckers is not redressing the introduction of our evil. but, who in the interest of t .e world and the only —It is making it more grievous to the plant and hence too humble opinion of themselves come forward most to all those who are trying to grow it. manfully to assist mankind and solve t h i r problems. Let each of us examine this matter for ourselves. I have but one fear : that at the very first glance at Do we not want all the fruit we can get ? Can we the simple heading of my subject weary-tired aud get it by removal of all the very growing material worried, heads and hearts will only be too ready to that is sent up from the roots to produce it ? This rush to an exclamation at once : exc jss energy of man and plant is wasted for an “ Oh, we have had enough of all this ! We know “ ideal ” in my humble epinion of a good looking all about it ! This no use, it won’t phiz ! But in plant. Not that I do not think that good looks are also your land of ‘ bide-a-wee ’!” I only ask to be desirable, and can be worked out. heard out and it will be that you yourselves will My suggestion, therefore, is that since you do top be able hereafter to prove the results of your the plant at three, four, or five feet height ; so you <( short crops ” and “ leaf disease.” My heading is should in like manuer nip the primaries, secondaries, il pruning.” I only ask you to follow me in what &c., when overflow by suckers appear. I cannot do you do and I propose to show you only this much : better than give you a figure by which to convey my that the “ one” important matter has not received view of this subject. Supposing I had a stream at that due consideration to which it is most assuredly head so great that it must overflow its banks. The entitled for the best results. only way I c mid reduce its strength and still have Let me get a fair position for my subject. So I the whole of the water would he by guiding and direct shall start with the entering of the seed into the soil, ing it below into different chanu Is and thus force till by half evolution of “ crosses,” the coffee plan! it a great deal, so as not to lose a drop of the with its primaries answer to that height (say 3 feet) water, and so we ought to treat the coffee plant at which you intend it to stand. Here m ;ii pro­ when it is overflowing with its sap. Let it get to poses to dispose of God’s w rks contrary to his ruling its extremit:es, and if it offeis to overflow, you have and he does a process c died “ topping.” What are then to divert it ;that is give at its extremities space to man’s hopes ? That the wind will n<>t blow the plant flow onward. down—and that the cutting of the “ sap ” will force In concluding this a little hastily, I have to add into other channels, and so strengthen his plant. Oh ! that I shall send you a set of rules, giving my erring mortal ! What are your results ? Projections views of pruning, which will clear up my writing, the most unnatural; suckers, upward shoots a-.d down­ if there be any misunderstanding about it.—Yours, ward shoots, backwa d'shoots, gormandizers, and oth.-r G. H . K . confusions. You have bleeded the head - f your stream of sap too close to your roots; aud you have lost sight of a most imporiant point that while you have CINCHONA STUMPS. reduced the natural height of your plant, yon have Dikoya, 11th Aug. 1:?8L done nothing to the root itself, the energetic worker and the supplier of th* necessities of the plant above D e a r S i r , —Your correspondent “ Stumps” is quite the soil, according to their nature. How have you right in recommending planters to plant cinchona proposed to remedy your evil of “ topping ? By stum ps in preference to plants. I have been in favor removing all fcbes > unnatural now trying proj ctions. of the former for the last two season*, and out of And what do you effect ? Sicken your roots for they the thou-ands I have put out, scarcely one has sent up these different saps for different executions. failed or b*en dried up with the drought. The diffi­ Branches, pith, leaves, etc., to bring back to them cu lty is w h‘-re to get them ! Plants even are not to light, heat and carbonic acid gas. But alas ! then has be had, except at a high price.—Yours truly, been no return, for man in his superior knowledge A P L A N T E R . has been most ruthlessly removing all that nature was issuing forth from the roots to the very leaves for a CINCHONA STUMPS. return of strengTi ; but is now exhausted as all love’s labour has been lost, and mother earth unable to stand S i r , —Will some one kindly enlighten me on the this sort of strain begins to call for strong stimulants following points ? :— known as “ manures ” a d unless this is fully supplied 1. Is the method of panting equally successful “ cvup fails ” and “ leaf disease” results. with succirubra and offic nalis ? Just read at this point “ babories’s ” deep resea ches. 2. ShouM the plants be stumped in the nursery He tells you distinct!}7 “ Nature makes no blunders some time previous to putting out, [f so how long? that the plant in its growing, grows up with a and at what height above the ground ? stem putting out primaries. Tuese extending themselves 3. Is there any objection to this mode of planting ? horizontally throw out “ secondaries.” These in their Its advantages are obvious in a monsoon like the turn “ Tertiaries.’ He says and let us have it in his present, especially when \ lants are not A 1.— Yours, own words : —“ they are placed by pairs on both sides, etc., IGNORAMUS. all spread out horizontally and with a direction in some measure towards the circumference. I f any should grow upward or downward, they would become intri­ “ Ilang-ilang.—The Manila manufacturers of e sence cate aud the tree embarrassed.” Bat nature “ can of Ilang ilang are going about excitedly, and are actively neither be perp;exed nor intricate,” because “ the at work producing this essence for exp irtation to boughs from the ground will extend wider as they Paris, with every prospect of a profitable result. It are nearer the source of vegetation so that the shape is said the essence of Ilang-ilang of good quality is of the tree is pyramidal. All those branches of three quoted there at 400 to 425 francs per kilogramme. orders or more garnish it richly, hut as all are hori­ Trade is benefitted, but it sh- uld not be forgotten zontal from he’ow upwards, all diverging from the centre that when the perfumers of Pans have ouce bought more 0 " less , all plac'd either at the four faces of each a couple of bottle* of Ilang-ilang they buy no the trunk or both sides of the matted branches (pri­ more for a long time, and the price of the article m aries) the profusion of nature, may fall,- Straits Tmes, 9th Ju ly . INDIA-RUBBER. “ This plant (referring to the last sent) is a woody A local advertisement announces that “ Mozambique climber, common along the maritime region, and abund­ ant at the mouth of the Zambesi, being found largely pink rubber seedlings ” are locally available, and it is at Shupanga on that river at 100 miles from the coast. added that the rubber is iu high favour with English The produce of this has been shipped from Quillimane manufacturers. In respect of the Landolphiae species for America. The fault has been that the rough bark generally, the following information may be of in­ has often been imbedded in the gummy mass through terest, taken from Collins’ and Brandis’ Report on careless collection. It is not an article of trade at Zanzibar, but I have been endeavouring to induce the the Caoutchouc of Commerce ” :— natives to collect it. John Kirk. December 25th, Landolphia Owariensis, Pal. de Beauv. FI. Chvar et 1868." Benin, I., p. 54. t. 34., B.C. Prod. viii., p. 320. To Dr. Welwitsch however (whose valuable addi­ Synonym .— Pcediria Owariensis, Spreug., Say. i., p. tions to our knowledge of the Flora of tropical Africa -Stiff are so well known) belongs the credit of fir-t identi­ Vernacular Name.— Licongue or Licomrjuc (sing.). fying the plants yielding African Caoutchouc, lie Macomgue (plural form) (Plate 4). says (1. c.) it was principally from the L. Owariensis, Geographic Distribution. —Dr. Welwitsch remarks (;n Beau., that he saw the Caoutchouc collected by the natives MS to Co lins) that this species “ first discovered by of Golungo-Alto and of Cazengo. Du Chailln speaks of the Pal iso t de Beauvais in Owar and Benin, and afterwards Caoutchouc vine, doubtless a Landolphia, know n by b y Don in Sierra Leone, I have encountered rather the name of Dambo, as being common about the River frequently iu several of the highland districts of Angola, Benito Also more plentifully in the valleys, bottom­ and c onsequently the habitat of this plant may be lands, and high grounds about the Rivers Moondah stated as extending from 10° lat. N. to 10° lat. S. on and Ikoi, the produce of those growing on high grounds the tropical coasts of West Africa.” being considered the best. Remarks Dr. Welwitsch (1. c.) describes it as a Collection and Preparation. “ large climbing plant, four to six inches iu diameter, The collection and preparation of African Caoutchouc at a height of two or three feet from the ground. From is conducted in a very slovenly and wretched manner. this point it is divided into several long thin branches The natives cut off a piece of bark and the milky which are again and again divided, climbing along juice is allowed to run into holes made in the ground the stems and larger branches of neighbouring tree-, to or on leaves. In Angola Dr. Welwitsch describes the which they fix themselves by means of most tenaci­ method there reported to as even if possible worse. ous spirally-twisted tendrils formed out of the indurated A native having cut a tree places the palm of his hand flower stalks after the ripe fruit has fallen off. The against the stem and allows the milk to trickle down fruit is about the shape of a middle-sized orange, con- his arm. He snes from tree to tree, and when his arm trining under a hard, nearly woody, reddish brown is covered, beginning at his elbow he rolls the shell, a sw'eet, rather acidulous pulp, which is eaten by Ca mtchouc back towards his hand, till it comes off in the natives.” the form of a ring. It is also by some collected and L. Heudelotii. D.C. Prod. 1. c. allowed to coalesce in woodeu vessels. The wood of Geographic Distribution. —Senegal. the 1)1 ant contains a gum. i-o th -t if the cut penetrates L. florida, Benth in FI. Nigritiana. p. 444. it this becomes mixed with it and spoils the Caoutchouc. Vernacular Name.— “ aboli" or “ abo ” (Fruits). African 1 aoutehouc has however improved in some Geographic Distribution.—Dr. Welwitsch remarks districts recently, and the price has been higher for (1. c ) this species is found “ rather frequent in most the improved kinds Mr. Lee Norris, lam Manager of the primeval forests of inner Angola, where, at an of the North British Rubber Company, wrote me that elevation of 1,500 to 2,500 feet, I often met with this he believed the better kinds were prepared with the beautiful climber, and gratified myself with its sweet, aid of strong liquor ammonias added in the proportion acidulous fruit, though not less so with the beauty of 3 per cent. The chief districts from which African and marvellous abundance of its large snow-white and Caoutchouc is expoited are the Gaboon, Congo, Angola, jas tmin-scented flowers.” Benguela, and Zambesi. Lmnlolphim species incerta, In the Kew Herbarium African Caoutchouc is received in the form of flakes, and Museum are the following :— round balls, and tongues, has a disagreeable odour, L . species. possibly the result of decomposition, is viscous, and Geographic Distribution.—Tropical Africa, lat. 1° N. generally least elastic of all the varieties. Remarks.— ‘The leaf of the African Rubber plant.” Coll. G. Mann. A. sp°cies. Prov. Zanzibar Coll. Dr. Kirk. JUTE CULTURE IN EGYPT. L. floridat H’ru ts and.Caoutchouc from the district on the Congo River. Coll. Dr. Hilliard. Le Cultwaleur, of Cairo, of June 1st, says We Car'tssa species. Wood and rubber collected by Dr, have on several occasions mentioned to our readers -Kirk (Livingstone exp dit on). the jute culture which Mr. Grant has been trying to L. ? Shupanga, India Rubber shrub.” Coll. Dr. introduce into Egypt. Since our last advices several J . Kirk. bales of this textile have been sent to Engl nd. These L. near Owariensis, Shupanga, India Rubber liana, have been much appreciated, recognised as of ex­ wO‘ d, fruit, &c. Dar Salam, ISO'S. Coll. Dr. Kirk, cellent quality, and sold at a very remunerative price. General Remarks. —Of these unascertained species of Tltia culture, it seems, then, should give good remits. Landolphioe which yield Caoutchouc, the Caoutchouc Daira Sanieh aud the Administration of the Domains sent bv Dr. Hilliard is identical with our West const have resolved to appropriate a certain extent of terri­ “ ball” Caoutchouc. The last two specimens sent by tory. I hete have been 200 acres sowed. Daira Sauieh Dr. Kirk are identical, and a portion of the stem of has ordered from India a quantity of seed, and it is the “ India Rubber plant of Zanzibar and East tropi­ announced in the journals that they are willing to sell cal Africa,” as he calls it, also sent by him, is, at some of it to the public at cost price. We strongly least as far as comparison of woods will admit, iden­ recommend our readers to profit by this circumstance, tical with the first specimen sent under the name of and make a trial with a small piece of ground. The Carissa, and both agree with a piece sent by Dr. price of gra n comes to P, T. 27 per feddan. The Africanus Horton from Cave Coast Castle. Dr. Kirk, sowung should be accomplished 15 days at latest from in a letter addressed to Dr. Hooker, C. B. (and which this date. Le Culticatenr < Iso gives “ Ins rue1 i -1 s the latter has kindly allowed me to copy), says ;— on the Cultivation of Jute iu the First Period.” Under the head of Soil it says :—The Jute grows pro­ Best Time for Harvest.—Harvest should be made vided that it gets the necessary moisture, and in when the plant is in full flower, which is three or all kinds of earth except sandy and gravelly. four months after the sowing. When the harvest But the culture has much better results in rich allu­ takes place at this time the plant gives the most vial soil, such as that on which cotton is cultivated supple fibre, and that of the most brilliant colour, in Egypt. It grows very well also in light sandy which is most appreciated by manufacturers and most soil, and, as in Bengal, in soils impregnated with easily prepared. When the plant is left to ripen more salt, or those which can be inundated by salt water in order to procure seed that gives a greater quanti­ at high tides. ty of fibre, but this fibre is hard and thick, and Preparation o f the Soil.—The preparatory work ought very little liked by manufacturers. to be done more or less often according to the nature of the soil; thus a hard and compact soil requires to be more worked than a light and powdery soil. O l e a n d e r P o is o n .-—We had lately occasion to men­ The principal thing is that the earth be exposed to tion the danger to stock arising from placing oleanders the sun at intervals, and that it be well pulverised. in positions to which animals might obtain access. Grain and Sowing.—The day chosen for the sowing T he New Yorh Tribune narrates a fatality that recently ought to be bright, w'ith good sunlight, and after a occurred :—“ A fine healthy mare ate a single tuft shower or after irrigation has rendered the earth of leaves from a branch of an oleander temporarily damp. The grain is sown with the hands, and then set by the door, then went on a journey of six miles, with the harrow or wooden plank. The seed should appearing playful and well, but on returning refused be covered with a light layer of soil. her feed. Next morning she still refused to eat, looked Quantity of Seed to the Feddan.—The quantity of dull and haggard, and had partially lost control of grain per feddan is nearly 12 pounds (English). After her hind limbs. The mare died before assistance that, during germination, the plants may be found could be obtained, and on opening the body the dark at a distance of 6 inches the one from the other. red congested stomach showed the action of an acrid This distance pirmits the rays of the sun to pene­ poison, and inquiry brought out the account of the trate to the roots, and the damp atmosphere to cir­ cropping of the oleander, of the injurious qualities culate freely on the earth and in the interior of the of which the owner was entirely ignorant. As this plant i> self. ignorance is very widespread, it may be well to say Time of Sowing.—The period during which the that all parts of this plant are deadly. A very small sowing of the seed takes places depends, as in Bengal, on quantity of the leaves are fatal to the horse, as we the soil, the situation, and the season. It commences have just seen. The flowers have produced death in in March and finishes about the middle of June. those who carelessly picked and ate them. The Germination.—Supposing the earth has been irri­ branches, divested of their bark and used as skewers, gated the evening preceding the sowing, the plants have poisoned the meat roasted on them, and killed should appear on the surface of the, earth at the end seven of twelve people who partook of it.—Australasian. of three or seven days. T e a —Mr. Inglis, Indian Commissioner to the late Ex­ Irrigation.—The climate of Bengal, where the rains hibition, gave an interesting lecture in the Presbyterian are alternated by sunshine, is best for the culture Church, at Elsternwick, on Thursday evening, to a of jute. In Egypt the irrigation should be regulated large audience, who evidently appreciated the lecturer’s by the progress and the vigour acquired by the efforts to interest and instruct them. The subject plants. The critical period for the growth is during chosen was entitled “ A Cup of Tea,” and consisted of the shooting. When the plants have attained the a series of graphic word paintings, descriptive of height of two or three feet the ground ought to be planter life on an Indian tea garden. Mr Inglis took irrigated at least once every month, or more if his audience with him from the plains and forests of required. After this period of growth, or until the Assam to the valleys of Northern India and t1 e hills plants have attained from 6 to 10 feet, the irrigation of Darjeeling. He explained the method of culture, is not of much consequence, for they have acquired the growth of the plant, the mode of picking the enough force to support themselves. However, jute young leaves or “ flushes,” the fermentation stage, certainly prospers better from the beginning to the the drying, sorting and packing, and the differences end of its growth in a humid climate, well exposed between the various sorts of tea. While fully admit­ both to sun and moisture. In Egypt this is a question ting the excellence of much of the Chinese product, the solution of which can only be obtained by he conclusively showed the superiority of Indian practical experience. over Chinese teas, on the grounds of their absolute The pulling up of Bad Plant and Weeding.— W hen purity, and because they are made under the super­ the plants attain the height of 2 or 3 inches the vision of men of our own race, with the best of bad plants ought to be pulled up, and when the machinery, backed by capital, intelligent organisation plants have attained at least one foot in height and with a minimum of handling. The value of the the thinning of the plants should be proceeded interchange of products between Australia and India, with, as crowding hinders their development, and in and the probability of its unlimited application, was thinning it is necessary in the first place to pull up also powerfully dwelt upon. The more stirring phases those plants that are most behind, or those hinder­ of planter life, the superstitions, amusements, manners ing the growth of others. As has been already in­ and curious customs of the natives were fully illus­ dicated, the most favourable distance for the growth trated, and the anecdotes and stories of hunting, and prosperity of plants is 6 inches the one from forest scenes, and wild jungl life fully su.-tained the th e other. interest of the audience to the close of the lecture. Piriodin which the Plant has Attained a Certain De­ Mr. Inglis, we believe, leaves for Sydney to-day, and gree of Development.—When the plants have attained we can safely say that both he and his colleague, about 3 feet there is no need to do anything ex­ Mr. Buck, have fully realised their functions as re­ cept to irrigate from time to time, and to pull up presentatives of a foreign country at the Exhibition. the bad plants which remain, especially in places They have u«ed their utmost endeavors to place the where they are crowded together. resources of the great country, India, wh’cli they re­ Height of Plants.—The jute grows to the height of presented, ever before the people of Victoria ; and we 6 or 10 feet, according to the nature of the soil, are justified in predicting that the fruit of their wise the heat and the regularity of the irrigation ; under and spirit' d efforts will be yet seen in an extended favourable conditions it has been seen to grow to interchange of commodities between the two countries.— 15 feet. Melbourne Age. CEYLON FISHERIES. shareholders, the four canoemen, and receives one From the report of Mr. Steele on the Hambantota twentieth of the proceeds for selling and collecting the money. Long ago, before the abolition of the district for 1868, we make some further quotations tax, it appears, the share apportioned to the Fisher in connection with the fisheries off the Southern coast Headmen was one-twentieth. The four canoemen share of Ceylon :— and share alike. In the case of the drag-nets, the 73. The sea which bounds the district to the south owner of the net (which is a costly affair, worth, with abounds in fish. More advantage might be taken than the boat, £15 to £20) takes the whole, giving the canoe­ is at present the case, in turning this valuable store­ men, and the people who drag, such share as he house of food to account, especially in the curing of pleases. The people who drag the net are of all ages fish which, as salt of the best quality is obtainable and sizes; and it is amusing to see little boys, with­ here, might be prepared and sent, inland in very out a rag of clothing, rushing home well pleased with large quantities. A great demand for cured sea-fish two or three small fish, the reward of their valuable always exists inland, as it is a prime requisite in assistance 1 A great deal of shouting always goes on the making of curry, the universal dish of the country. as the net is dragged ashore ; and towards this part River fish is, as a general rule, reckoned unwholesome of the entertainment the throats of the young people in Ceylon. Canoes, each holding four men, come all no doubt contribute largely. the way from Dodanduwa, Dewundara and Gandara, 76. Amaduwa (which means Turtle Island, though to fish off Hambantota and Tangalla, and the inter­ the first half of the word is Tamil, and the latter mediate coast. During the North-East monsoon, many Sinhalese—perhaps a token of the intermixture of races boats also go to Patnangala,* a rocky' headland, a few here in ancient times) is about two miles from Palatu- miles to the west of Yala (not far from where the pana, and about twenty-seven from Hambantota, Menikganga, the Jewel Ri"cr, empties itself into the and is noted for the abundance of turtle frequenting sea.) There they build huts to shelter themselves, the place. It is no longer an island, sand having and continue fishing for many weeks together, salt­ drifted up and connected it with the shore. Much ing what they catch, or drying it in the sun, until a of the tortoise-shell, wrought up so largely in Ceylon goodly supply has been secured. They then set sail into various articles, was formerly, I understand, ob­ for Hambantota and elsewhere, to sell their stock. tained from this place. Turtles come at regular seasons The buyers here hand over their purchases, after and in great numbers to the sea shore near Hambantota making a very liberal profit, to the tavalam-inen, who to deposit their eggs in the sand. It. is considered carry the fish to Uva district. Welipatanwila, a highly irreligious to kill them by the Sinhalese. village in Giruvva Pattu, about two miles west of the mouth of the Waiawe river, is inhabited exclusively by fishers, a robust and healthy race of men, and is noted for the abundance and excellence of the fish CASUARINA CULTIVATION. captured in its waters. [Para. 74 has been already quoted in our article.—E d .] We learn that some of the members of the Eurasian 75. In connection with Hambantota, there are at Association and their friends have taken steps to present six boats used with dragnets, and about twelve start a casuarina plantation Company, and that it is with the small nets. Of the small nets, besides the to be worked on the joint stock principle. The Com­ four sorts enumerated above the Patabendi Arachehi pany is not a large one and it is intended to work the of this place, the chief Fisher Headman here, informs land which the Eurasian Association has lately bought me four other descriptions are in use, namely laeju at Kollady, the value of the land being paid iu full del, ihi, ban:, and wara del. The last named is made or taken on rent. The cultivation of casuarina in of the fibre of the hemp bush, wdiich grows plenti­ parts of Madras and Chingleput district has turned fully 011 the sea shore. The thread is extremely out pretty well, but in all cases where these under­ tough, and makes admirable pack-thread. During the takings were managed by joint stock Companies they month of March, 1869, it is worthy of note, no fewer went to the wall. We may allude to one or two un­ than seventeen sword-fish— one, eleven and a half feet dertakings to show that casuarina plantations, though long and five and a half in girth, have been caught managed with some economy by Hindu projectors, and brought iuto Hambantota Bay; and of sharks did not pay. Two Companies were some years ago of all sizes about two hundred. The hammer-headed started in Madras for the purpose of growing casua­ shark is also caught, and so is the spotted species, rina. They were started with fair success, but in a but neither is very common. Close in shore sharks few years when the trees were coming on and they have never been known, so the fishermen here assert, needed a little care, funds were not available and to do any harm to human beings. When fresh fish the labor of two or three years went for nought. are brought ashore here, the Patabendi Arachchi con­ This is one of the rocks that the proposed Company ducts the sale immediately held on behalf of the must avoid. The undertaking, if carefully managed, will give good returns. The hundreds of acres of land * This bold and conspicuous rock, called Little in Madras, Pulicat, Coromandel, Cuttewak, Sadras, Elephant Rock in the Admiralty Charts, is believed and along the railway lines planted with casuarina to owe its Sinhalese name, Patnangala. or (by perali arc ample proofs that its cultivation ought to be en­ or transposition), Nampatgala, “The Rock of the Be­ couraged and that a well managed business will pay stowal of Titles," to the ceremony < f the investiture of fairly well. There is no doubt that the failures we native chieftains by the ancient kings, having taken have alluded to were the result of defective working. place at or nrar the spot. All round, the scattered The Company which is to be started may have many piles of rock, now, by the way, the chosen haunt of difficulties to contend with : there may be failures at bears, are very romantic looking. Two remarkable the outset, but with perseverance, success will come. leemas, or caverns for holding fresh water, are to be Certain persons who profess to know a good deal of found on one of them. Not far away is AkAsechaitya, casuarina planting have supplied the projectors of “The Temple, in th- Sly/” a very striking object in the the undertaking with information which shows that a landscape. The magnificent park-like plain of Butawa plantation w'ell managed will produce results that stretches between the two. A gil, a beautiful tree ought to satisfy the most speculative ambition. But much resembling myrtle, which, when burnt, yields the projectors of this Company are not likely to be a sweet perfume, is plentiful hereabouts. In April, deluded into the belief that a casuarina plantation, the jungles abound with star jasmine, with profusion though a good speculation, will be a source of un­ of snow-white blossoms of the delicatest perfume. failing wealth.—Madras Standard. 74 LIFE AND WORK IN JAMAICA. small capital and income could go far before they (From th e Field, 25th June 1881.) would find a more healthy and pleasant residence than Jamaica. I know no place that offers such in­ S i r , — I shall be glad if you can afford me room to ducement to the small capitalist who is willing to say a few words in reply to “ Inquirer” {Field, Feb. occupy himself in superintending personally the invest­ 26) and “ Captain” {Field, Feb. 12) as to the advantages ment of his capital. offered by Jamaica to men of small capital. In pre­ All kinds of English flowers, vegetables, and fruit vious letters (No. 1,416 and 1,427 of The Field) I have are cultivated and do well in the hills; and our beef given details regarding the cultivation of fruit, chocolate, and mutton, poultry, turkeys, ducks, fish, and fruits and coffee; and I should now like to say something are excellent, and moderate in price. Beef, fid per lb., about cinchona. all cuts ; mutton, 9d. to Is. ; pork fid, to 7M. ; turkeys, In 186) the Jamaica Government established an ex­ 9d. to Is., live weight; ducks, 5s. to 6s. per pair; perimental cinchona plantation in the Blue Mountains, fowls, 6d. per lb,; fish, 6d. per lb., all kinds; turtle, about twenty-five miles from Kingston, and last year 3d. to 6d. per lb.; eggs, 9d. t ) Is. per dozen. the bark sold from this plantation fetched higher Servants are cheap, but not good. Men cooks and prices in the London markets than either India or butlers, from 10s. to 14s. per week ; house girls, from Ceylon bark of the same class. I have recently visited 4s. to 6s. per week; washing, 2s. to 3s. per dozen the plantation, and can say in support of Mr. Morris, pieces; grooms and coachmen, from S< to 12s. per the director of the botanical department, formerly assist­ week ; water boys and grass cutters, from 4s. to 6‘s. ant botanist in Ceylon, that Jamaica presents a splendid per week. All servants in Jamaica feed themselves field to capitalists willing to embark in cinchona. out of these rates of wages. There are numerous advantages which Jamaica Horses are good and not costly. A good cob for possesses over other places for European settlers, and mountain from £14 to £20; a buggy horse, from I may mention a few. In regard to mail communica­ £25 to £40; a good milch cow and calf, from £10 tion and steam lines be-ween England and the to £12. Taxes are light—on nouses, le. 6d. in the United States, the island is singularly fortunate. In pound rental; l;md, cultivated, 4d. per acre; not the harbonr of Kingston a day does not pass without cultivated, from ljd. to 3d. per acre; horses, 1 Is. a a steamer arriving or sailing. We have also a weekly year; wheels, 15s. for road purposes. The import coastal steamer of the Atlas Company under contract duty is heavy, being 2s. 6d, in the pound on clothing with the local Government for conveying passengers and most articles of necessity from abroad. Houses aud goods round the island, calling at all the chief are to be had on short or long leases, sometimes fur­ outposts. nished, but generally unfurnished, at not costly rentals. In the mountains of Jamaica—from two thousand There are many properties to be purchased now for feet to nearly eight thousand feet—there is the finest less than the value of the buildings in many cases, climate in the world, and abundance of tine land to from men who have not capital to develope their be had cheap. With the aid of coolies (East Indians) resources. Money fetches from 7 to 8 per cent on to augment the fitful labour of the natives, the'cultiva­ first mortgages and perfectly good security. tion of coffee, cinchona, jalap, ginger, &c., affords I shall be pleased to afford my individval reader certain profit and pleasant occupation. For the cultiva­ of The Field further information regarding Jamaica if tion of sugar, Liberian coffee, Indiarubber, cotton, cocoa he will apply to me. (chocolate), bananas, and other fruit, the lower lands W . B . B a n c r o f t E s p e u t . are best adapted. On the north coast the climate is Jamaica, April 26. cooler and more healthy than on the south side; but P. S.—I would strongly advise all who contemplate the island of Jamaica has ever been most wickedly seeking a home abroad to visit Jamaica before deciding maligned when described as unhealthy. Our death upon anything. It only takes two months to go and rate is vt-ry low as compared with many places supposed return, and need not cost more than £60 or £70, all to be more healthy. The temperature is much cooler told. than most people suppose, in the hills especially. Last year there was not a death from yellow fever in the Naval Hospital at Port Royal among the military AN AGRICULTURIST’S TOUR IN or in the general population; and yet there ate per­ BELLARY, sons who suppose—even say—that yellow fever is a Jamaica disease. Since the establishment of quarantine, T h e Government have published a valuable report the deaths from this disease are so few as not to be by Mr. C. Benson, late Acting Superintendent of Go­ worth mentioning. There are no diseases peculiar to vernment Farms, on a tour that he made on the Jamaica, the most fatal being that of spirit drinking, Bellary District last autumn. He says:—“The tour to which new coiners are liable if they accept the in­ was a short one, but afforded me an upportunity of evitable invitation, “ Have something to drink ? ” which extending my experience of South Indian farming to unfortunately is as common in Jamaica as in many a set of conditions of which I had previously but other places. If a man will make up his mind to drink little knowledge. This is, however, only the third nothing, except at meals, and to be only moderately in the Presidency which I have as yet been allowed careful during the tirst few months of his residence to visit, although I have been in the service of Go­ in the matter of not over-heating himself—needless vernment for nearly seven years, My first opportuni­ exposure to the sun in the middle of the day, changing ty of personally gaining an insight into native his clothes if he gets wet in the rain, wearing flannels farming was not afforded me until I had been nearly and avoiding linen clothes—I am sure his chance of five years in India, and thus my knowledge of the long life is as good in Jamaica as any where on earth. country was until recently very small. This The island being so large and the population so sparse, I tour is further only the fourth that any officer of the there is not much society; but with frequent letters | department has up to the present time been allowed and newspapers from England, books, and one’s occupa­ to make in the plains, and yet blame is often cast tion, time goes all too quickly without any necessity on them for not appreciating the good points of to yearn for society. There are nice people in Jamaica, native farming, although their opportunities of becom­ as there are in most places ; and everywhere there ing acquainted with these points have been few. Hear­ is real hearty hospitality, aud a desire to welcome new ing and reading chiefly of the defects of the native blood, energy, and capital. system, and working out the conclusions to which Instead of burying themselves at the Antipodes, the official statistics point agriculturally, my opinion of Gape, India, and other distant lands, persons with South Indian husbandry was not a flattering one, as I showed in a paper I laid before the Famine Commis- C o o r g . —W e learn from Mercara that there is some eion. Further experience does not lead me to modify prbability of the planters securing a fair average crop of in any important particulars my previously expressed coffee this season in Coorg. It is hoped that the plant­ opinions, although I can now better appreciate the ers will not be disappointed as they were on a previous difficulties with which the ryot has to contend, and occasion. Coffee is not likely to turn out well in some of also the good points of his practices as far as I have the producing tracts of the presidency owing to unsea­ become acquainted with them. With every extension | sonable rains.-—Madras Standard. of my experience, the conviction also grows upon me j Foochow Tea. —Bad news from home has produced of the great difficulties of bringing home to the ryot in- j quietness here, (Foochow) and the week’s settlements of formation regarding the manner in which his practices i Congou are less than half the total of the previous seven can and should be altered. The two most important days. Teamen so far remain firm holders. It is understood points on which reform is urgently required—the use that two fine “chops” of American Oolong have been of a better plough and the manufacture and use of sold, but the purchase has not yet been declared. manure,—are of such a nature as to render demon­ Scented Orange Pekoes have sold on easier terms.— stration of the necessity for change of the greatest N. 0. Herald. difficulty. Everything, as far as I can see, points to Coffee in Burmah. —The Govrnment of British the advisability of energetic action on the lines men­ Burmah is making a laudable effort to put new life tioned in my Cuddapah tour report; but even with inlothe southern districts of the Province by offering the greatest possible efiort progress can only be slow. liberal terms to intending coffee planters. The coffee Unless Government are prepared to act energetically industry would be certain to pay in these parts, if and on a far reaching system in the matter the hope private efforts were wisely fostered by the adminis­ of doing any good to the country at large must be tration, the chief necessity being a supply of labour, very small, and it is scarcely worth while to carry on our for lack of which mauy a fair enterprise in India has work in a ‘half-hearted and experimental ’ manner.” gone astray ; as, for instance, the tobacco industry in The Board of Revenue observe that “Mr. Benson’s the northern Aracan Hill Tracts. Labour is exported, tour was confined to the month of August, when crops with the sanction and by the favour of Government, were on the ground, and it is therefore difficult to in large quantities to Trinidad and Guiana ; while understand how he arrived at the conclusion that all the time wide fields are lying vacant within the the agricultural operations of the district are carried boundaries of British India.—Pioneer. on in a ‘lazy and perfunctory manner,’ or on what A Resolution of the Bengal Government deals with -ground he basis his assertion that the system in Bel- iary ‘is the most inefficient cultivation he has ever the subject of the manufacture of paper from the fibre •come across.’ Subsequently, however, when describing of the wild plantain stem. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Sunderbunds Division, drew attention to the the mode of cultivation more particularly, he prac­ tically retracts this charge, and shows that the opera­ subject, which was referred to Dr. King for report. Dr. King, though he thought that the estimate of tions are conducted in an intelligent and skilful manner. Mr. Benson appears to be puzzled to ac­ profit was too sanguine, expressed the opinion that count for cholum and korra being the staple crops the proposed industry had a good deal of promise and says: ‘I am unable to suggest any reason why about it, and recommended Government to send a they should so exclusively occupy this position.’ ” The trial shipment to London, to make the fibre known Board says that the “reason why these cereals are to English manufacturers. The Lieutenant-Governor, more largely cultivated than other grains is that, being however, considers the suitability of the wild plantain the staple food of the people, there is a large demand for paper manufacture so well established that it is for them, and its pays the ryot to grow them just not necessary for Government to initiate experiments. as in England it pays the farmer to grow wheat and Private enterprise will, however, be liberally encouraged; barley. In regard to deep ploughing and the alleged and Government will, at the outset, and for a reason­ prejudices of the ryots against this and other approved able time, supply plantain stems free of cost to “any modes of farming, it is observed by the Board that mercantile firm or individual wishing to try such ex­ the only way to overcome prej udice is to demonstrate periments in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or elsewhere practically that scientific farming pays; and a few in Bengal.”—Madras Mail. model (not experimental) farms conducted on com- OOTY,,8th A ugt.—Although we are having rain every merical principles established in the midst of the day, the climate is milder than usual at this time of lyots’ holdings would produce a greater effect than the year, which may be the reason that the Acacia a long series of lectures at the school of Agriculture. Healbata is coming into flower before its usual time. The Board consider that this practical test is what What a fortune might be made out of the trees if must be insisted upon as the first and most important they could be transported to London ; all the wants step towards the improvement of agriculture in India.” and necessities of Ooty could be paid for without The Government says that they have perused the stint or limit, for one little spray of this yellow report with interest, and that it is a valuable contri­ blossom sells for one shilling in the great metropolis, bution to the literature on the subject. They concur or did do so a few years ago. The trees or shrubs, with the Board in desiring that tours be undertaken as for I believe they are 1 1 0 more than shrubs, grow at frequently as possible, and would be glad of any sug­ Mentone and the South of France, and the blossom gestions the Board may offer to that end. —Madras Mail. is carefully packed and sent to the London markets, where the feathery yellow blossoms and perfumes are Local Industry. —In pursuance of their policy that thought much of as a green home plant in Eng­ i t is expedient to encourage Indian industries, tha land. It does not exceed the size of a Fuschia or Government of India have directed that the following Geranium ; it would be impossible to count the num­ shall in future be procured of Indian manufacture ber of shilling sprays Ooty could send to market, wherever possible, and when they can be supplied but it seems that all things become possible in course a t rates no higher than those for which imported of time ; woh would have thought some years ago that articles of the same quality can he obtained : namely meat could be sent from America and Australia to “ Sundials, the Government Workshop at Roorkee London without being tinned, and yet we have lived makes sundials, and no doubt they can be made at to hear that frozen meat answers so well that the importation of it to London is likely to become general; other establish 111 ents of a similar kind ; Sulphuric acid, made in Calcutta by Dr. Waldie, and probably else­ perhaps we shall be able to pterify the acacia blossom where ; and Alcohol, made at all large distilleries and some day, and send it to London without being sugar factories.”—M adras Mail. withered in the transport,—Madras Times. The United States wheat crop this year is estimated of soapmalters is now being turned to the utilization at 400,000,000 bushels, against 480,000,000 bushels of their waste “leys,” and various new processes for lust year. The stock on hand is now 41,000,000 recovering the glycerine contained in these liquors bushels above this time last year, so the export sur­ have lately been tried with more or less successful plus will not fall off to the full extent of the decline results Apart from minor impurities, waste soap in the crop aggregate.—Ibid. ‘leys,’ are generally found to contain glycerine, car­ bonate of soda or caustic soda, chloride of sodium, D e a r t h o p P o t a t o e s i n C o lo m b o . —Potatoes have been at fourpence and sixpence a pound for the last gelatin, and albumen. One of the processes for re­ fortnight. When will a fresh shipment arrive ? Their covering the glycerine which promise to be the most proper price here is from five to eight cents per lb. economical and the most successful begins with con­ according to the supply. What are up-country cul­ centrating the liquor until the salts contained therein tivators about ? begin to crystalize. The liquid is then cooled and filtered to rid it of gelatin and albumen. It is after­ G a m m ie ’s S u l p h a t e o f Q u i n i n e .—The Calcutta wards made to absorb carbonic acid, which precipi­ “ Englishman” having inspected samples of the sulphate tates bicarbonate of soda, and first is separated from of quinine prepared in India by a new process by Mr. the liquor in the usual way. After undergoing this Gammie, and the crystalline febrifuge which the same process the liquor is then made to absorb gaseous hyd­ gentleman has succeeded in producing, says :—“ The rochloric acid until what remains of carbonate of soda sulphate of quinine appears in every respect equal to has been converted into chloride, and further, until all, the best sulphate of quinine of commerce. A pro­ or almost all the chlorid of sodium has been precipitated fessional analysis shows it to contain, in every hundred and separated from the liquor in the usual manner. parts, quinine 70"88 ; sulphuric acid 11'62; water Arrived at this stage, the liquor contains water, gly­ Il'oO. The crystalline febrifuge is a sulphate of the cerine, and hydrochloric acid. The acid is then eva­ whole of the alkaloids of the red bark, except the porated entirely and absorbed in water for using uncrystalliaable amorphous alkaloid, which is believed afresh. The dilute glycerine remaining can be puri­ to be the sole cause of the nausea produced in some fied by filtering it through animal charcoal or by constitutions by the uncrystallised febrifuge hitherto concentrating and distilling it in the usual way. manufactured by the Government. It is more granular Messrs. Price & Co., the well-known candle manu­ in texture, and only slightly less white in colour, than facturers, were, we believe, the first to utilize this sulphate of quinine, and, if it can be sold at a pro­ formerly wasted product, the value of which has in­ portionate price, will probably supersede the cinchona creased so enormously. febrifuge. Arrangements are now being made to manu­ C in c h o n a .— The following appears in the July facture the sulphate ofAquinine on a large scale, and number of the Chemist and Druggist:—“ Cinchona it is hoped that it will tie possible in a few years, to is accumulating to a very large extent, the slock in meet all the demands of the Government for this drug.” the port of London amounting to over 37,000 packages. — Madras Mail. The point seems to have been reached when the P l a n t a t io n s o p c a s u a r in a s have been largely cul­ supply can more than meet the demand, unless under tivated in the neighbourhood of Madras for supplies very exceptional circumstances, and it is likely that of firewood to the railway, as well as to the city. An a period of low price for quinine will now set in. old Ceylon planter, Mr. MacIntyre, one of the tri- | At present, as will be seen, the prices for English umvirate (Stewart, Brown and MacIntyre), who and French manufacture are abnormally high in com­ opened Glenapine and other Uva estates in the early parison with those for German make, in consequence days, was interested in this casuarina cultivation in of special contracts. It is quite certain that, for some the Madras district. The finest casuarina trees in time to come, the arrivals of the bark will continue Ceylon are probably those in front of the Dalle Face to increase, and it is probable that the proportion of Boarding-house, which newcomers from the “ North the imports rich enough in alkaloid to be worth Countree ” have very frequently taken for Scotch working will also become larger. That a further firs. The timber of well-grown trees ohght to be reduction will result in the price of quinine, if no useful for other purposes than firewood, but the latter exceptional demand, occur, is almost certain, and it ensures a speedy return from quick-growing trees. To may be considerable. Holders of South American ensure success, however, it is needful that the planta­ barks, who have tried to maintain prices for some tion should be within easy reach of the railway time and have refused to let their stocks go, have or city. Mr P. O'B. Horsford,' who is Superintendent shown more inclination to meet the market, and the of the Railway Firewood Supplies in the Western consequence has been more extensive transactions at Province, is very confident that planters' cultivating declining p ices. It must be noted that buyers at a regular plantation of quick-growing trees for fire­ the last sales seemed more willing to do business, and wood purposes at any spot not far from the line between the demand is evidently strong. As there is often Peradeniya and Nawalapitiya ought to find it a very a large market for quinine in the summer, a temporary remunerative speculation, the demand for firewood improvement would not be suprising. One of the being greatly increased when trains begin to run up chief influences affecting the cinchona market has to Nanuoya. We are not sure, though, that the been the introduction of the so called cuprea barks, casuarina would be the best tree for up-country' culti­ which seem to be well suited for manufacturing pur- vation : it is certainly not likely to succeed in a poses. These barks come from the State of Santander, paddy field, and apparently prefers dry sandy soil. in Columbia, and it is yet unknown, we believe, to Our Maturata correspondent will find that casuarina what ext'-nt a supply from that source may be expected. seed is procurable from the Director of Botanic Gard­ The bark is named “ cuprea” from its copper-look­ ens at R 5 per ounce. ing appearance. Present prices for this bark vary from Is. 10d. to 2s. fid." Under Ihe head “ Cinchona G l y c e r in e . —We learn from the Pharmaceutical Journal that the price of refined glycerine has during in Africa ” we are informed that a very interesting the last two years advanced from about £31 to £103 experiment is to be tried in West Central Africa by per ton. This enormous advance is due partly to in­ the members of the Livingstone (Congo) Inland Mis­ creased consumption, diminished production, and the sion and that seeds of the different species of cinchona, influence of speculation working on a market devoid which have been obtained from the Government of stocks. In view of the present position of the plantations in India, are to be sent out to them with article and the prospect of a continuance of high a view to ascertaining whether it could be success­ prices for a considerable time to come, the attention fully cultivated in the mountain valleys of the Congo. ” P L A N T A IN t r e e . “ When the trees have matured, or are ready for ( From th e Journal of the Society of Arts, J u ly 15, 1881.) cutting, they are cut down about a foot from the ground, and the labourer then proceeds to strip off Mr. L. Liotard has prepared an elaborate memor­ the layers from the trunk, which are cut into strips andum oil the plantain tree (dated Calcutta, January of about 3 inches wide, or say, three strips to ea ffi 22, 1881), of which the following is an abstract :— layer. These strips are then each drawn through Dr. Balfour,* in a note dat^d the 15th October, between a blunt knife and a board to remove the 1880, has noticed the Agricultural Department de­ pulpy vegetable matter from the fibre, which is then partmental memorandum on fibrous materials in India spread in the sun to dry. As soon as it has been suitable for the manufacture of paper, and he specially thoroughly dried, it is ready for the market. The directs attention to the chapter on the plantain tree. appearance of the fibre depends entirely on the care Many species of this tree, or rather plant, have been bestowed in drying it, as, should it be exposed to grown in India from the most remote times; but as rain, or not thoroughly dried, it becomes discoloured, a producer of marketable fibre, the only species or assumes a brownish tinge, and loses the strength which has yet come to note is the Musa textilis of to some extent. the Philippine Islands : this yields the fibre known ***** in commerce as Manila hemp. “ As regards machinery, several attempts have been The introduction of the Musa textilis, in 1858, made, but have proved unsuccessful, to invent a suit­ direct from the Philippine Islands into the Madras able machinery for cleaning to supersede .the primitive Presidency, is described in the printed memorandum, method still in use, which consists of a few cross where it is shown that attempts made to extract the and upright bars of bamboos, to which are fastened fibre in this country for commercial purposes proved the board aud cleaning knife, the fibre, or rather the fruitless, although thousands of tons of it were being layer of strips being introduced between the board extracted every year in the Philippines. and the knife, which latter is then held down by a There is no doubt that the Manila hemp plant string attached to a cross bamboo, on which the (Musa textilis) grows as well in British India as other foot of the workman is placed, and the slip is species of the plantain genus ; and Dr. Balfour justly pulled through, thus removing all the vegetable says, that British India could in a couple of years m a tte r.” supply the London market with all that it could take The annual quantity of Manila hemp which is e x ­ of Manila hemp fibre. lie therefore observes that tracted by this means in the Philippines i* reported the prospect of benefiting British India by creating to be about 40,000 tons, of which the United King­ an export trade from it of the extent and value dom takes about half. above indicated might well incite to considerable Whether any improved method of extracting the efforts to attain success ; and he suggests that tiie fibre be or be not discoverable, there does not appear attention of the Boards and Commissioners of Revenue to be any reason why the method of extraction fol­ and of the Agri- Horticultural Societies might be re­ lowed in the Philippine Islands should not be adopted directed to this plant. in British India, with any modifications which ex­ It is known that the Musa textilis was reared with perience may suggest. success in Calcutta as an experiment in 1822, 1836, I have myself tried an experimental process, in and 1840 ; that fibre was extracted from the plants devising which, I was guided by the considerations and m%tle into a neat cord no way inferior to Eng­ below explained. lish wliip-cord ; and that a project was then put for­ The first of these was the structure of the plant. ward for the establishment of the manufacture of It is composed of layers of fibre united t 'gether longi­ paper from the fibre ; but we do not know how or tudinally by cellular tissues which contain a very why the project was not carried out. The projector, large percentage of mucilaginous and pulpy matter in we learned, weut to one of the British colonies in which a strong colouring matter is present. There South America. are in the layers of the trunk three distinct qualities We know also, that in the Madras Presidency the of fibre—it is coarse and strong in the outer layers, efforts to introduce the Musa textilis were of a more fine and silky *in the interior, and of a middling extended nature, beginning from 1858 ; that the trial quality in the intermediate layers, while the central planting proved very successful; that numbers of the foot-stalk contains no fibre at all. The mid-rib of plant were introduced aud reared; that the fibres the leaves also contain strong fibre. extracted therefrom were cleaned and experimented Secondly, the proper time for extracting the fibre. upon, and were found to possess considerable strength This is of importance if the fibre is ultimately to be and gloss ; to be very clean, and fit for taking dyes ; used for cordage or textile manufactures, but of less also that success in the rearing of the plant was consequence, perhaps, if the fibre be destined for especially attained in . the Wynaad, where it grew paper-making. The proper time is when the purple remarkably well and was multiplied in large numbers fruit-stalk is about to rise, but has not quite appeared in several of the coffee estates both easily and cheaply ; yet; it is then that the fibres are in their best con­ and that there was no doubt as to the value of the dition : before that, the fibres will be immature, after fibre, but that the efficient and cheap preparation of that, they will have lost their strength. the fibre remained an uneurmountable difficulty. Thirdly, the appearance of the fibre. All fibre is In the Andaman Island also the plant was success­ valued according to the degree of its cleanness, its fully reared and propagated, and fibre was extracted; tenacity, and iis uniform structure; and if, in addition but the process of extraction, which consisted in steep­ (o these three qualities, the fibre is of fine texture, ing the stem until decomposition set in, was prob­ it will command a high price. It is thus necessary ably a very bad one, and consequently the fibre, to classify the fibres. The easiest way to do this is, which was reported to be creditable in other respects, after the plant is cut down, to strip layer after layer* was found harsh and wanting in strength. from the trunk, each strip being about two inches The experience gathered thus seems to point to the wide, and to group the layers according to the fibres discovery of some satisfactory process for extracting they contain, which will be found to present the the fibre cheaply and efficiently as the essential pre­ features above noticed. The stripping is very easily liminary to any extensive Indian trade in the pro­ effected by the hand with the help of a knife, and duct. The mode of treatment followed in the Philip­ has the advantages of both securing u liformity in the pines may first be noted ; the British Consul at Manila fibres by classification and of facilitating their ex­ explained it as follows: — traction, as will presently be expla nei. The mid-rib * See p. 10 of the Tropical Ayriculturist.—E d . of the leaves should be slit into fcur parts to facili­ 75 tate the crushing, and should be kept apart from The Bombay Chamber of Commerce, in a letter the produce of the trunk. addressed on the 9th May, 1879, to the Famine Com­ Fourthly, the time taken in the operations. The mission, said : - cuttings should be utilised on the day 011 which they “ The high rates charged for the .conveyance of goods are made, and they should be manipulated iu the have prevented Western India from reaping all the shade. The reasons fire that if the fibre be not forth­ benefits which were reasonably expected to flow from with extracted, the fleshy or sappy compounds, if the introduction of the Great Indian Peninsula system subject to wet, will decompose ; whilst if they are into this Presidency. This statement is borne out exposed to the action of the sun’s rays, the fibre by the fact, that on a recent occasion, when a reduc­ will be discoloured. Further, the immediate removal tion of their grain rates was made, a ver large of all extraneous matter reduces the bulk of the pro­ development of traffic immediately occurred ayd has duct, aud thus decreases the cost of transport" fo steadily progressed. In September, 1875, then Great storage centres. Indian Peninsula Railway reduced their grain rates Looking to the benefit that will result to the from the producing districts in the Central Provinces country, should success be attained, and" the very of 5J pies per ton per mile, being a reduction of 30 small expense that will iu any case be required, the per cent on their previous rates. This reduction left G ivernmen t of India may perhaps be disposed to the rates still considerably higher than the East give this process some effective trial iu some Con­ Indian Railway Company’s rates, but it led at once venient localities. If so, it might be well to make to a very great increase in the traffic.” a beginning in the Wynaad, where the true M usa The Bombay Chamber of Commerce then went on textil'is has been successfully introduced and propag­ to quote figures of exports in illustration of the rapid ated, and where, I believe, large numbers of the increase in the traffic, and added : — plants exist. “ But these illustrations of the effect of reduced A further suggestion which I would venture to rates prove that even railways in India may be of make is, that experiments should be made with some little avail in fully developing the resources of of the native varieties of the plantain tiee, those the country if the rates for the carriage of produce varieties being preferred which grow on hilly land, as are not reduced to the low scale necessary to attract these contain more fibre than the varieties on low- the produce of the districts through which they lying flat ground which arc valuable in other respects. pass. Thus, in the Uovernmen‘3 of the North-Western Pro­ There c m, therefore, be 110 doubt that a reduction vinces aud the Punjab, trial might be made with the in the rates of railway carriage for the fibrous as species of the plantain_trees that grow on the lower well as oilier products of India would have a bene­ ranges of the Himalayas, that is, blow Mussoorie, ficial resub. in the lower tracts of the Nalnin State, in the Um- I venture now to suggest that the question be re­ balla district, and in Kangra. It is just the species ferred to the Public Works Department for early that produces insipid fruit, sometimes with seed in­ consideration. If a reduction of rates for all fibrous side, that will be found to yield a larger percentage materials is not feasible at present, 1 would earnestly of fibre. suggest that such materials, when destined for paper In Bengal, Bombay, British Burmah and the Central manufacture at least, be allowed to be carried over Provinces the indigenous species growing on the high tlie railways at rates lower than those now imposed. lands might usefully be experimented with, the above A gentleman who is engaged in the businee in Lower remarks giving gn idea of the kind of plants to be Bengal writes to me on this subject as follows: — s elected. “ A great deal of raw material, which could be The real obstacle, however, to the successful intro­ utilised for paper-making, cannot be brought down duction of new fibre materiels into our export trade by rail 011 account of the high freight payable accord­ is the coss of railway fare. Oil this point I will re­ ing to the present goods tariff of all railways in produce here the remarks which 1 male in the In dia. memorandum I referred to at the. begiifiiiug of this “ Amongst the well-known materials used for paper- n o te :— making, take, for example, aloe-tibre, jute, hemp, “ The cost of the carriage not only of fibres but flax, rags, and wade papers ; all tlics», when lodsely of all raw and material products of India, from the packed, are at present put in Class 2, the rate of internal districts to large centres of population and which is 50 pies per 100 maunds per mile. Mounj to export marts, prevents such products from being or any other grass or plantain leaves, when loosely utilised, and a large source of income to the country packed, belong t > Class 3, and are charged 6Gjj pie is thus neglected. We fiud that Mr. R&idell, in his per 100 maunds per mile. Plantain leaves and grass evidence before a Parliamentary Vommittee, stated have an additional obstacle in being subjected ■ to a that the cost of carrying a ton of goods for a mile minimum weight of 81 maunds. is, on the East Indian Railway line, "218d., and the “ Now, you are well aware that aloe-fibre, jute, average cost on nine lines "376d., or ftlis of a penny. liemp, flax, when destined for twine or textile manu­ Before long, he says, the cost on the East Indian factures, might bo able to bear a second-class rate on Railway of carrying a passenger or a ton of goods account of their higher market value ; but, seeing for a mile will not exceed one-tenth of a penny or that it is only the cuttings or waste of tliese mate­ one-sixth of a penny respectively; and though that rials that are used for paper manufacture, they can­ rate may not be attainable on lines less favourably not possibly be of so high a value, and cannot, situated as to fuel, gradients, and quantity of traffic, therefore, bear the same charge. The cuttings or the cost of transport ought not in any case to ex­ waste should consequently bo treated specially and ceed Rl. per ton per mile, aud Jpl. per passenger per charged a much lower rate.” mile. 1 Expirieuce,’ Mr. IVndell said, 1 shows that This can, I venture to think, be done by placing a reduction of rates, especially for passengers and all materials destined for paper manufacture under a cereal", is always accompanied by a large increase distinct liaad of “ paper-making materials ” in the of traffic.’ He added that, as consulting engineer of goods tariff, and classing the head under Glass I (i.e., the Ea-t Indian Railway and State Railways, he 33J pie per 100 maunds per mile) when the material would strongly advocate a reduction of ra'es, and lie is looseiy packed, and under special class when de­ was certain that such a policy would ultimately prove spatched, pressed or screwed in bales. In neither remunerative. There can be little doubt that, as case need there be any restriction as to minimum regards fibres also, the same beneficial results will be weight, and the usual reduction might be allowed produced by a reduction in the rates. ” when carried over 150 and 300 miles respectively. HOW TO START A TEA GARDEN AND Mr. Lawes himself, iu the commencement of his ! book, assumes that the stock of nitrogen now inherent MAKE IT PAY .—(Continued from p. 164.) | in our soil was originally derived from the elements, (From th e Indian Tea Gazette, July 16th, 1881.) 1 Let it once bo established that nitrogen can be S e v e n t h Y e a r . , introduced to the soil by the growth of certain crops, It. A. P. ; and the farmer need have no dread of this gradual Importation of 32 coolies, at R100 per exhaustion of the soil which Mr. Lawes foreshadows head landed on the Garden ... 3,200 0 0 for him. R. W. M. Bonuses to 66 coolies for a two years’ re­ agreement, say ...... 1,416 0 0 Engagement of 10 local labourers under COFFEE LANDS IN MYSORE, a two years’ agreement, at say R25 per head ...... 250 0 0 (From th e Madras Times.) Wages of 224 labourers, say... .14,124 0 0 Proposed Terms for the settlement of Coffee Lands Establishment ...... 4,464 0 0 in Mysore, on an Acreage Assessment. Loss on 2,000 maunds Rice, say ... 1,650 0 0 1. An assessment on all plantable land of one rupee Government revenue, fees, law ex­ per acre, with a guarantee for 30 years on the terms penses, ha. ... 500 0 0 of the Survey settlement. Station or Steamer Agent’s salary ... 240 0 0 2. Subject to the approval of the Government of Calcutta charges, say ..- ... 1,200 0 0 India, permanent assessment at El-8-0 per acre to Discount, Feed of live stock, Stationery, those who may desire it, on the terms of the Madras Postages, and other contingencies, say 1,456 0 0 Coffee Land Rules, but with a reservation of the Government claim to royalty on valuable mineral Total R28,500 0 0 products, viz. metals and precious stones. R e s u l t s a t e n d o f S e v e n t h Y e a r . 3. An assessment of 8 annas per acre only for very Total Receipts...... R 1,04,300 poor lands, or for lands which have greatly deterior­ Tot%l Expenditure ... .. ,, 1,95,500 ated in their condition. 4. Grass lands, in clearly defined compact blocks, Government Revenue.—The revenue payable to Govern­ to bear an assessment of 4 annas per acre if retained ment increases this year from three to six anna" per for pasture or growth of firewood. acre per annum, for a period of four years : that is, 5. Laud newly granted to be held free for 3 years. from the seventh to the tenth year, the revenue To be charged with half assessment for the next two payable to Government is at the rate of six annas years, 4th and 5th, and to bear full assessment there­ p e r acre, after. Lands granted within the last five years to {To be continued■ ) have the benefit of this rate ; reckoning fiom the date of the grant; MR. LAWES’ WORK ON FERTILITY. 6. Lands totally abandoned, or thrown out of cultivation owing to the ravages of the borer or other TO THE EDITOR OF “ THE FIELD .” auscc," may be taken up agaiu on terms provided for S i r , —Mr. Lawes’s deductions froth his experiments new grants of land. are so startling, and so at variance with the experience 7. The assessment provided in Rule 1 to come into of practical men, that they cannot be accepted by force at once in regard to old estates. But the them wi'hout fur'her proof. settling officer may provide for the levy of half assess­ Scientific men are apt to ride their hobby to death. ment only for any' period not exceeding five years, when It is for practical men to deduce their own conclusions, : such consideration appears to be required in con- by comparing the researches of the former with the" ' sequence eh her of the inferior productiveness of the results of their own experience. estate as in the case of Native holdings, or owing to No one, probably, will doubt that if wheat be i portions of the estate remaining unplanted. grown continuously on the same ground without the ! S. The area of grass land in an estate to be as- addition of nitrogen, it will gradually reduce the original ! sessed under Rule 4, to be taken in the first instance and inherent stock of nitrogen in the soil. I on the estimate of the pattadar, subject to correction So far farmers are agreed; but the main question, ' and the levy of the proper assessment retrospectively the crucial point in fact, of Mr. Lawes’s work on . upon survey. “ Fertility,” is whether cer ain crops are, or are not, 9. Estates not exceeding 59 acres in extent must capable of restoring nitrogen to the soil; and on this bo relinquished wholly and not in part. In the case point Mr. Lawes appears to have too hastily deduced of estates exceeding fifty acres in extent, relinquish­ his theories from experiments which he himself admits ment will be permitted of a portion not less than one to be unsatisfactory. half of the whole estate, or less than one hundred acres. A farmer looks on his clover crop as the one above Provided thaf the land relinquished shall form a all others which will supply him with nitrogen for compact block on the margin of an estate and divis­ his succeeding corn crops, and it is with astonishment ible from it by a reasonably straight line *of boundary, and fear for the future that he learns that this crop and provided further tiiat the cost of re-surveying the is no longer to be regarded as the renovating one of land and of erecting the boundary marks required his system, but as no less exhausting than the be borne by the applicant. succeeding corn crops. O r d e r t h e r e o n . The vital point as to the source from which clover derives its nitrogen is one which botanists ought, by His Highness the Maha Raja’s Government has had the aid of chemistry, to be able to decide for farmers, under its consideration the terms proposed and sanc­ and the gratitude of a large community would be due tioned by the Government of India for the settlement to anyone who would set that question at rest for ever. of coffee lands in Mysore on an acreage, assessment, We know that plants have the power of respiration, and the correspondence connected therewith. Hi* by which the oxygen of the air is absorbed, and Highness the Maha Raja entirely concurs in the views of assimilation, by which the carbon is assimilated. held by Sir James Gordon, that the interests of the It is surely but natural to assume that in a lesser State as well as of the planters arc best consulted degree, according as nitrogen bears a small proportion in according to them a permanent assessment, and he to oxygen and carbonic acid in the atmosphere, they is pleased to accept and sanction the above terms in­ have the power of absorbing nitrogen also. clusive of Rule 2 providing for a permanent assess­ ment at El-8-0 per acre to such of the planters as the plant and well water the bed immediately after­ may at once offer for it. As it is understood that wards ; the latter operation destroys a large propor­ the above terms generally meet the wants and wishes tion of the insects shaken from the plant. of the planters, His Highness the Maha Eaja directs Stum ps, Clearing off.—In the autumn, bore a hole that the Survey Superintendent, in communication 1 to 2 inches in diameter, according to the girth of with the Deputy Commissioners of the respective the stump, vertically in the centre of the latter aud districts, will at once take steps to carry into effect about 18 inches deep. Put into it from 1 to 3 oz. a settlement of the coffee lands on the above terms saltpetre; till the hole with water, and plug up in the current year. The Survey Superintendent close. In the ensuing spring take out the plug, pour should, in communication with the Planters’ Association in ab o u t \ gill kerosine oil and ignite it. The stump and the Deputy Commissioners of Hassan and Kadur, will smoulder away, without blazing, to the very submit a draft form of the title-deed to be issued extremity of the roots, leaving nothing but ashes. to the planters. Trees, Felling.—To find the height at which a tree 2. It will be seen that the Government right to must be cut, so that its top will strike a given point a royalty on metals and precious stones, to sandal, on the ground ; Square the height of tree and the and to an excise duty on arecanuts is reserved, and- given distance from tree to point. Divide the differ­ that the lands will continue to pay the established ence of these squares by twice the height of tree, local cesses. and the quotient will be the height from the ground 3. The halat duty on coffee as well as on card­ where the tree has to be cut. Example : Height of amoms will, on the introduction of this settlement, be tree=60 feet, dis'ance of point to the tree 20 feet, abolished. In regard to cardamoms on Government then 602=3000, 20- =400, difference=3200. 32004- forest lands which are not held on cultivation pattas, (2x60) =26.6 feet. arrangements should be made for their being given Saws, Hints concerning.—A saw just large enough out 011 rent annually or for longer terms. to cut through a board will require less power than 4. Where the lower rates of assessment provided a saw larger, the number of teeth, speed, and thick­ for temporarily by Eules 3 and 7 are fixed, planteis ness being equal in each. The more teeth, the more will be allowed a permanent assessment at El-8-0 per power, provided the thickness, speed, and feed are acre to take effect after the expiration of the tem­ equal. There is, however, a limit or a point where porary assessment, but their applications for the same a few teeth will not answer the place of a large number. should, as in other cases, be submitted at once. The thinner the saw, the more teeth will be required 5. If Iiule 9 requiring that estates not exceeding to carry an equal amount of feed to each revolution fifty acres in extent should be relinquished wholly and of the saw, but always at the expense of power. When not in part is found to operate with hardship in the bencli-saws are used, and the sawing is done by a gauge, case of the smaller coffee estates held by Native ryots, the lumber is often inclined to clatter aud raise up the Survey Superintendent should submit for con­ the back of the saws when pushed hard. sideration any modification of the Eule which may The reason is that the back half of the saw, having be required in the above cases. an upward motion, has a tendency to lift and raise the piece being sawn, especially when it springs and pinches on the saw, or crowds between the saw USEFUL WBINKLES AND EECIPES and the gauge while the cut at the front of the saw FOE PLANTEB3. has the opposite tendency of holding that part of the (From th e Indian Tea Gazette, 16th July 1881.) piece down The hook or pitch of a saw tooth should be on a line from one-quarter to one-fifth the diameter Fertilizer, A cheap.—This consists of sulphate of of the saw : one-quarter pitch is mostly used for hard, ammonia, 601b ; nitrate of soda, 40 lb.; ground bone,. and a one-fifth for a softer timber. For very fine 250 lb ; plaster, 250 lb,; salt, \ bushel; wood ashes, toothed saws designed for heavy work, such as saw­ 3 bushels ; stable manure, 20 bushels. Apply "the above ing shingles, &c., even from soft wood, one-quarter amount to six acres. It is said to give as good results pitch is best. as most of the commercial fertilzers sold. Bones, Value of, as a fertilizer.—1001b. of dry bone-dust add to the soil as much organic animal A n e n t T e a P l u c k in g .— I have been trying to make matter as 3001b. of blood or flesh, and also at the very fine teas separately by the following means, viz., same time f their weight of inorganic matter—lime, by plucking the tip and one leaf, and then as many magnesia, common salt, soda and phosphoric acid. leaves as were tender; I mean plucking the tip and one Superphosphate of lime, commonly used by farmers, leaf separately, but putting all the leaf in one basket is simply bones treated with J their weight sulphuric and then sifting it when half rolled. By doing this, acid and an equal quantity of water. when once the coolies get in the way of it, they can Sub-Soil Drain, A simple.—An excellent sub soil pluck nearly as much as by the ordinary system, and drain may be made by digging a trench, and filling what little less they bring in is made up for by the in the bottom with sticks of wood compressing them advantage of being able to roll aud ferment the fine together with the feet and then covering them with tea by itself.—J. P. B.— Indian Tea Gazette. the mould. The effectiveness of such a draiu will E i g h t D a y s ’ L e a f . —Tea shoots are seldom plucked endure for several years, and the final decay of the at less than 30, 35 and 40 days old at soonest, and wood will serve to enrich the soil. occasionally 50 ; a shoot of 8 days’ old is generally Caterpillars, Eemedy for, —A solution (1 part in ab-mt fth of an inch long, and the sort of crop we 500) of sulphide of potassium, sprinkled on the tree by should get by this we can guess,—very “ tippy ” indeed, means of a hand-syringe, is extensively used in France. I should say. He has evidently heard the expression Insects on I'lants, To discover.—If tjie leaves of the 8 and 10 days’ leaf, i. c. time since last plucking, plant seem reddish, or yellow, or if they curl up, a and imagines this the age of the shoots taken, but close inspection will generally disclose that the which then were part grown, but not mature enough plants are infested by a very small green insect, or to take. A shoot from the axil of a leaf just plucked, is else with red spider, either of which must be de­ ab out \ to | of an inch long 8 days after, at 20 days stroyed. For this purpose, scald some common tobacco is about an inch long, at 30 days 3 inches, and 40 with water until the latter is colored yellow, and days 6 inches thereabouts ; the sketch enclosed of a when cold, sprinkle the leaves of the plants with it. vigorous shoot 11 inches long and 5 leaves is 50 days It is a good plan to pass the stems and leaves of from time it started till drawn. —S. E . P.—In d ia n Tea the plants between the fingers, and to then shake Gazette. APHIS BLIGHT ON PEACH TREES. functions towards supporting the fruit; but so soon as no longer required, ceases to flow as in the case TO THE EDITOR OF T IIE “ AUSTRALASIAN. ” of milk, and changes its nature into leaf-sap as milk S ir ,—Could you kindly give a remedy for peach does to blood. There could not be a better illus­ blight ? My trees are covered with aphis, which, I tration than the mango tree, of a year when the believe, prevented them from bearing last year,—N. M. pollen is destroyed. On examination, the leaves will Corryong, June 27. be found covered with a coating of sugar-sap ejected [ Syringe the trees with an infusion of quassia chips. from the flower. If Nature could utilise this sap A pound of chips, which may be got for a .trifle in the support of leaf, is it likely that it would of the chemist, wiil serve for a long time. They may exhaust itself in the manner it does ? Y’ou remarked be infused again and again. Let the infusion be just that if this theory were correct, what would be the unpleasantly bitter. In the event of quassia not being advantage to tea planters, in their removing the flower obtainable, employ soapsuds.—E d. ‘ ‘ A ustralasian. ”] of the tea plant ? This can easily be shown, the flower being removed which to the plant is like the COST OF MANUFACTURING TEA IN A young to the animal, the necessity for its nourish­ HILL DISTRICT. ment ceases, thus the space occupied by the fruit- sap is taken up by that, of the leaf, and a consider­ TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ INDIAN TEA GAZETTE. ” able portion of the time which would be spent in S i r ,— In reply to your request for figures showing the fruit is devoted to producing leaf. the actual cost of manufacturing tea, I am able to I have a theory of my own with regard to the supply you with the following as a sample of a Hill cultivation of vine, which I should like much to have District. * discussed. The figures include only the cost of (1) Fuel and E . A. C. bamboo work ; (2) Plucking ; (3) Rolling ; (4) Firing ; Hardoi, 26th June 1881. (5) Assorting and packing. They apply to a garden where labor is cheap, but this advantage would be balanced by the better and TEA : HINTS CONCERNING THE INTERESTS thicker flushes and smaller cost of plucking in a OF PROPRIETORS AND PLANTERS. Regulation District. The plucking average here was about 3 seers per cooly per diem last year, and 5 TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ INDIAN TEA GAZETTE. ” seers per cooly per diem this year to 30th June. D e a r S i r , — I wfill tr y to shew pro p rieto rs of tea It only remains to add that 1880 was an unusually gardens, and those men who have not had any really good one. practical experience in tea manufacture, what fools 1880— As. P . they make of themselves in the eyes of planters, by Fuel and Bamboo work ...... 0 2 30 giving the said planters strict orders as to how they Plucking ...... 1 3" 10 should manufacture their leaf (hoping that I may be Rolling ...... 0 3 "80 of seivice to the said proprietors, and so open their Firing ...... 0 1 20 eyes to see what a hole they are likely to fall into Assorting and packing ... 0 3’20 by doing so). I will also give them a few hints about management. Cost of manufacture per lb. 1881— ... 2 1 '60 First, I ask any reasonable being—How can a man, who has never made tea, know what produces Fuel and Bamboo work .. ... 0 1 50 the various stages, such as colour o f infusion, darkness, Plucking ...... 0 10 of liquor, thin liquor, fiat, soft, pungent, good or bad Rolling ...... 0 3 flavour, sourness, -ir., Ac., except from hearsay, and Firing ...... 0 075 hearsay is what other people with the same inex­ Assorting and packing ...... 0 150 perience as himself say. Now planters will not be astonished, but unpractical men will be probably, when Cost of manufacture per lb...... 1 4"75 I say that each of the above stages I have mentioned Yours faithfully, m ay each be produced from as many causes nearly. T w ic e T w o . Unpractical men will say (lark infusion is over-fermenta­ tion, uractical men will say—“ yes, it may be.” Unpractical men will say darkness of liquor is again D U A L SA P . over-fermentation, and the same answer will come TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ INDIAN AGRICULTURIST.” from the experienced planter ; and so on with thin The treatment of coffee is what I will first take liquor, flatness, soft, pungent, flavory Ac., Ac. up. While accompanying a friend in charge of a I now beg to say that dark colour of infusion m ay coffee estate on the Neilgherries, I observed him be produced, as far as I know, from six distinctly plucking up the young shoots on which there were different onuses, and without attending to and counter­ no flowers; and was told by him that, by so doing acting, &c., every one of them, a perfect outturn, the sap which went to their nourishment would tend can never be obtained. to increase the size of the berries. This first led me Darkness of liquor may be produced from 4 distinctly to draw the distinction between the fruit and leaf- different causes. sap. It appears to me that as with the human being Thin liquor „ „ „ ,, 5 ,, and animals so with plants ; Nature changes its con­ Dial and soft ,, ,, ,, ,, 3 „ dition at the time for propagating its specie. The Pungency „ „ ,, „ 5 ,, same nouiishment tends to support blood and m ilk; and many lesser and trivial causes. yet no one would, I suppose, be so bold as to say F lavor „ „ ,, ,, 2 great cau­ they were synonymous. Good milch cattle will never ses and many trival ones. be found to cirry much flesh, hence the inference Then again we have appearance of tea to keep in that the greater portion of nourishment taken is con­ mind, and the following terms are applied : Stuck verted into rndk instead of blood. Now I hold that tip, black, irregular, curly, well twist'd, open, showy, with the change of seasons plants always take their handsome, leafy, chaffy, brown, common, Ac., Ac. turn, and that this period to them is like the sea­ All these can again be divided into as many other sons for propagation to human life, the same sustenance particulars. undergoes a different process by which fruit-sap is M uch tip the unpractical man will say is fine create I, and so long as it exists, it performs its plucking. But planters know that this may be one 76 of the causes of which, as far as I know, there are ON THE BARK OF BROUSSONETIA PAPYRI- 4 distinctly different causes. FERA AS A MATERIAL FOR PAPER-MAKING. Black. There are I think 3 distinct and other trival causes. Memorandum by D. B r a n d i s , Inspector. Gem ra l o f Irregular „ „ ,, 4 Forests, on th" bark of Broussonetia papyrifera Curly ,, ,, ,, 2 ” ,, as a material for paper-making—dated the Wei I-twisted or open ,, 4 ,, 29th November 1880. Showtfa handsome, <(-c. 4 „ ,, In a memorandum on the subject of the cultivation Leafy, chaffy „ „ 3 or 4 ,, ,, of bamboo fur paper stock, dated 8th July 1875, I Brown „ ,, ,, 2 „ ,, made I he following remarks regarding the Paper Common ,, ,, ,, 4 or 5. ,, ,, Mulberry :— As it is impossible in some gardens which have In conclusion, it may not be out of pla’e to draw not got the proper appliances and are deficient in attention to a trie which is grown largely in Japan labour force to carry out their manulacture exactly as coppice wood on a short rotation similar to osier- as they should like, many of the above causes have beds, and which furnishes a large proportion of the to be neglected to procure good tea. I will just paper stuff used in the country. This L the Paper mention a few, viz. supervision, cultivation and p lu ck­ M ulberry (Broussonetia papyrife a : ‘ Forest Fiora of ing at too long interval*; these are some of the main North-West India,’ page 410). This tree appears to reasons, A man may not be able to give sufficient accommodate itself readily to different conditions of time for supervision, and thus many of the above climate; it thrives in Western Europe, on the South causes have to be neglected in order to pr cure good Sea Islands, and iu S am, and there seems every tea ; his insufficient labour force deters him from reason to believe that its cultivation may succeed in making tea of a good quality (if he is an houe»t man), N. rth-WTest India. I know of few trees more promis­ otherwise he might make it off only a certain portion ing (in a suitable climate) for the supply of paper of the garden, and make it good by keeping a large stuff on account of its free aud rapid growth and the staff in the tea-house, whilst in the mean time he is abundance of its fibre. losing thousands of young seedlings in nurseries, or new In the report on the progress and condition of the planted out seedlings, for want of keeping them clean Royal Gardens at Kew during the ye ir 1879, just and not catching crickets, the ground they occupy received, the following passage regarding this subject n o t being a yielding area. Also he m ay have some- occurs low fiats requiring draining, when a stitch in time B oussonetia papyrifera.—‘ The bark of the well- would save nine, but as this area is also not yielding, known Paper Mulberry supplies the material from it is also neglected, and only sufficient pluckers, culti­ which the tappa cloth of Polynesia and the bulk of vators, and people to supervise the best yielding the paper of Japan and China is manufactured. The portions of the garden are given, and all improve­ Japanese cultivate the plant very much iu the same ments sacrificed to the manufacture of good tea, which way that we grow osiers, and they use only the he has got the hookam to make, and whn-h if he does young shoots for the manufacture of paper. A sam­ not ho will get the sack. Now 1 say this is false ple of the bark, which came into the hands of Mr. policy, and only done through ignorance on the pro­ Routledge, is stated by him to be ‘nenly if not prietor's part. If owners wifi not leave their affairs quite, the best fibre I have seen. ’ * * * ‘ I must in the hands of their trusted and tried planters, admit it is even superior to bamboo.’ * * * « Jt and abstain from giving strict orders, they must requires very littl- chemicals, and gives an excellent come to grief. yield—62-5 per cent in the grey, i.e. merely boiled, Now we come to look at another side of the and 58 per cei.t bleached.’ The tree is indigenous question, viz., the interests of the planters themselves, iu the Upper Salween forests of British Burmah, and how that affects the interests of the proprietors. I as soon as reserves have been dvtnaracated iu that think it will be the exception (not the rule) where district, and officers placed in charge, efforts should experienced planters arc under terms of agreem-nt, be made to establish regular plantations. In March and in fact during the last two years comparatively last 1 visited, on the banks of the Maythamuk River, few agreements have been gi-en to any planters ; a seitlement of paper makers from Siam, engaged in on the contrary, a large number left the tea districts making the well known snow-white paper, which is for want i f employment. The remainder were, as a sold in the bazaars in Burmah. The procedure is of rule (1 think i may say), willing to sign agreements, the simple-t character, and the great advantage of as their situations in tea were made very precarious. this fibre is that it is white naturally, and that it is Now why did not proprietors give agreements ? Simply readily cleaned. It should also be cultivated as an because they themselves are desirous of making the experiment by forest officers at other places in Bur­ planter’s situation a precarious one. They lake not ma h, in forest garden”, or regular plantations And the slightest interest in him, they think, oh ! we can I would recommend that it be tried at the Sitapahar easily get another man any time. But now if tea and Ramanpokri Plantations in Bengal, at Shillong, goes up, I am not so sure of that. When a planter and at the Kulsi Plantation in Assam. It is not im­ is placed iu such a precarious position by his employers, I possible that it will be found to succeed elsewhere and does n it know at what moment he may get in India, for the trees thrives in Western . Europe kicked out, he will not endeavour to make him-elf where it stands frost and snow, in China and Japan, comfortable or improve his garden. For the future and on the South Sea Islands.— Indian Forester. he'll simply do what I have stated above, viz. sacri­ fice future pounds for the present p> nee; he loses USEFUL GARDEN RECEIPTS. confidence in his employers, and they distrust him, and the inevitable consequence is, that after a year (From Hogg’s Gardeners' Year-book.) or so, an entirely new man is substituted, because, as P e t r o l e u m v s. American B light.— I have been able the proprietors will say. “ latterly the garden has to alinoit entirely get rid of that pest to my apple not done very well.” Hoping these few hints may trees, American blight. Last year the trees were do good, and prove that many are unconscious of completely covered, but after the fall of the leaf I being penny wise and pound foolish, and also prove had them carefullv dressed with petroleum, which was that nothing is lost by taking proper care of employer’s applied to the affected parts with a paint brush. interests, I am yours, Contact with the petroleum seemed to destroy the Sylhet, June 1881. “ Fair Play.” insects, and I was in hopes they had entirely dis­ appeared. This summer, however, there have been recommended, it should be put iu the coolest position signs of them again, but whenever the blight makes possible, and near to a ventilator, for it must be its appearance, an application of the brush dipped in borne in mind that too great a heat is against the petroleum at once extinguishes it. The contact of the plant’s well-doing, The ordinary orchid mixture will oil with the leaves and frub buds apparently does suit it well. Some growers add a little very fibry no injury, and I see that with a little patience and loam, but we cannot eay that it does better in it perseverance, my trees, which were in a fair way for than in the ordinary mixture. being ruined, can be preserved.—E. B. L i l i a s . —Anceps and Autumnalis should be in the To cleanse Fruit Trees of Moss.—Not only the smallest collection. Anceps does best in potif, but mosses and lichens which so generally affect fruit trees, Autumnalis requires a basket or a block. Both thrive but the eggs of insects may be effectually destroyed well in moss and charcoal, and a fair supply of water, by dressing the trees in winter with a wash composed while growing, especially if they are on blocks. of a saturated solution of soft soap and common salt Both are winter-flowering plants, and require a good or brine. The trunks and large branches ought to season of rest after they have flowered. Re-potting, be first scraped with a scraper made of old hoop or basketing, or blocking should take place just before any other implement tb it may be improvised for the new roots are pushed in spring. purpose, and when all the scales of bark are removed, Lycaste Skinneri is a real gem for an amateur. apply the mixture with a painter’s brush, working There are many varieties, but all are good. Its main it well into the crevices. This is much preferable requirements are :—The cool end of an intermediate to, and not so unsightly as, washing with lime. house or warm end of a cool one; moss and char­ T o i)i:srR O Y G r a s s a n d M u s s i n P a v e m e n t s a n d coal, with a little tibry peat, plenty of water while W a l k s . — Dissolve 1 lb. of powdered arsenic in 3 growing, and moderate dryness while at rest.. Scale gallons of cold water, boil and keep stirring; then is apt to trouble it, but the use of the sponge will add 7 gallons of cold water and 2 lb. of crushed keep it under. soda, stir the' whole well whilst boiling, aud with M e s o s p j n id t ’M v u l c a n u m aud sanguineum are two a rose watering pot apply to the walks in dry wea­ neat, fre-growing plants which freely produce elegant ther, from March to Miy inclusive, being the best spikes of sanguineous flower. Both are easily cultivated. time. The above quantity will be enough for 25 square M i l t o n i a s are good, free growing, free-flowering yards. An inclining board should be placed at the orchids. The cool end of the house, and a couple sides of the walks or grass to keep off the hot liquid. of inches of material to root in ; steady moisture and Salt will destroy weeds for a time. If you have shade from sun will secure success in their cultivation. box edgings, the salt or the soda and arsenical solu­ tion above-named must be kept from them, otherwise they will he killed. T o m a t o s f o r . t h e M il l io n . —Mr. John Hepper, To r e m o v e W o r m s f r o m L a w n s a n d P o t s . —H alf formerly gardener at The Elms, Acton, and who an ounce of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury) has long enjo.v ed a good reputation as a successful dissolved in 15 gallons of water will cause worms to cultivator of the Tomato, is now illustra'ing in a come to th » surface; but care must be taken that remarkable degree at Mr. Hawkins ’ Floral Nursery, fowl do not eat them, otherwise they will be poisoned. Haven Greer., Ealing,, the capacity of well-grown plants A peck of freshly made quicklime mixed with 40 gal­ to produce large quantities of fine fruit. In a span - lons of water, and alio wed to stand till it clears, it roofed house of 216 feet in length there are growing applied through the rose of a watering-pot will have 400 plants, 200 on each side, planted in a bed of soil the sauio These mixtures may also be used resting on somewhat narrow wooden and slat shelves. to remove worms from flower pots. The house is warmed solely by solar heat; the plants, which represent a good type of the large red Tomato, ORCHIDS FOR AMATEURS. were raised from seed in March, and planted out at the latter part of April. Layers of turf were drat (From th e Country Gentleman's Magazine.) of all laid on the shelves, and on this was [diced D e n d r o b iu m s rank among the very finest of all a compost formed of good tibry loam and dum, and orchids. Most of the species which we named in the in this khe Tomaros were planted. In it they have March number of the I ilia Ga'dc.ner, will grow well made a very robust growth, the plants average 3J feet in tne warm end of a C rttleya or intermediate house. iu length, but with stems of remarkable stoutm ss. They may all he grown either in pots or btskets, hub They are trained straight up to the roof, and the thosv most fitted tor basket culture a *e Uhrysotoxum, Literals are kept thinned out. Already the plants Deusiflorum, Devonianum, Parish! 1, Pierardii, Thyisi- are p o-iuoini ripe fruit; as soon as they begin to show fiorum, and Wardianum. The "thers do fully as wtll signs of colouring they are picked off and ripened on in pot*. Strong-growmg kinds should have a good shelves. One remarkable feature of the plants i- their deptn’of material to root in such as nobile; weak short-jointed growth, and Mr. Hepper calculates there rooters, suuh os Farishil, should have but, little mate'-ial. are e ght joint-* to the yard, and that the plants, after The two great secrets in the successful cu tivation thinning, averaged eighteen fruit to the loot run. of the Deudrobium are a decided season of growth And such fruit too—large, symmetrical, and highly and a decided season of rest. This is best secured coloured. Let it be remembered that the shelves are by aff irding a pretty brisk heat from the time the narrow, aud that the depth of the bed of soil scarcely growth commences, until it is fairly finished, and exceeds 6 i- ches. As the roots find their way to the then the plants should be kept comparatively cool. surface a little fresh soil is added, and copious water­ During the growing season a plentiful supply of water ings are given. The bunches are thinned out to about is necessary, and during the resting period only just nine fruits by removing all the malformed one-. Mr. as much as will prevent shrivelling. It is only by Hepper confidently predicts a great weight of fruit- such treatment that D . nobile can be made to yield from this ho-n-e, and its appearance justifies his ex­ a profusi-m of flowers. By keeping the plants warm pectation. W ith constant attention and careful crop­ and moist they go on growing, but flower only ping, Mr. Hepper hopes to gather fruit up to Carist- sparely ; but by the opposite treatment abundant mas. There are also four smaller span-roc fed houses floriferousness may be had. The evergreen kinds should planted in beds for A latter crop, but the plants are not be kept quite so dry as the deciduous kinds. similarly trained. These houses give anot her 500 plants, During winter the baskets in which these are growing and it is believed each plant will produce on an should be damped weekly with the syringe. avera e fifty fruits. W ith such productiveness, good D isa G randiflora. — This is a very fine cool-house Tomatos should be within easy reach of the million. orchid, and when there is only such a house as we have — Gardeners' Chronicle. M a s k e l iy a , 17th Aug.—I send you two coffee roots. England to this colony is—first, to gain experience Can you tell me what the white fungus or insect feeding and i a knowledge of the relative value of birds before on the rootlets is ? [The little white patches on the coffee investingi their money in them. It is only natural roots are mealy or white bugs. A description of the that1 the ostrich farmer will fancy his own stock, bug (Pseudococcus adonhlum J will be found in Nietner’s and i fix a high price when offering it for pale. As “ Coffee Tree and its Enemies,” page 5, second edition. there1 are public auctions and sales of birds very —E d .] ifrequently, there would be no difficulty in ascertaining the market value of ostriches, and opportunities would A gricultural E d u c a t io n i n S c o t l a n d . —As noticed 1 in these columns two weeks ago, the Highland and 1offer of judging of the merits of their feathers. Ex­ Agricultural Society of Scotland resolved on the 15th 1perience in colonial ways, and amongst birds, are of June to memorialise the Lords of the Committee necessary ’ preliminaries before investing. If this plan of the Council on Education, expressing the desire is adhered to, the investor will have no cause to re­ that existed in Scotland to have the teaching of agri- gret ' having gone in for birds ; but, on the other hand, cultural sciences included in the subjects taught in a hasty investment will certainly not meet with such the board schools throughout the rural parishes. The happy results. In fact, the former procedure will in secretary of the Highland Society accordingly, having all probability conduce to give an impetus to ostrich communicated the resolution to the Education Depart­ farming, and be beneficial to the whole ostrich-farm­ ment, Whitehall, London, has received the following ing community; whilst in the latter case a few favourable reply :—“ Scotch Education Department, interested individuals will be the only gainers ; ostrich June 27, 1S81. Sir,-—I have the honour to acknowledge farming will get into bad odour in the old country, the receipt of your letter of the 23rd inst., which I and thence the enterprise will suffer. —G y p o g e r a n u s have submitted to their lordships. I am directed to S erpentarius (Cape Colony, May 24).—Field. request that you will inform your society that my N o t e s o n C a s s a v a g r o w in g i n S u m a t r a . —T he lords are fully alive to the importance of the subject following extract from a letter from a planter in Su­ which has been brought under their notice by your matra affords a little novel information. In reply letter. They have had under special consideration to your question of the probability of Cassava piying arrangements by which encouragement will, it is in Ceylon, and its cultivation out here, I can only believed, be given to the study of the principles of give a very outline reply, as to go fully into the agriculture in the schools under inspection, and they subject of Cassava cultivation would require a lecture trust that these arrangements, when finally settled, of considerable length, and which I fear I have not will be found to go far to meet the wishes of the the time at my disposal now to undertake. I will however speak of one thing that will give you an society.—F. It. S a n d f o r d .” — Field. idea of the capital required to work Cassava pro­ T h f, G u a v a a n d t i i e B e e t l e s .— I noticed another fitably. The first outlay is in machinery and buildings, curious fact, in the same strain, in that same island as they are the chief expense, on one place here of Lufon. The common Guava, undoubtedly imported they cost S 185,000, so that you see for such an from America by the Spaniards, has run wild there outlay in mills, a very considerable acreage is re­ like the Lantana Camara in Ceylon, and is very fast quired to make it pay. Then again Cassava wants invading the grassy savannas of the interior, probably any quantity of manure, as it cannot be profitably through the agency of the pigs scattering broadly the cultivated without. The plant literally grows on a undigested seeds. Well, if there is a true Malayan muck heap, dead dogs and horses cut in pieces are type of beetles it is the Pachyrhynchi, a tribe of often added with advantage besides lime, cattle man­ Curculionid®, whose gorgeous metallic colouring cannot ure and bones, heaped in ridges or mounds, before fail to attract the eye of the least attentive observer. the slips are planted. These are put in 2 feet by 3 I was at the time doing a little bit of beetle collecting feet apart, the ground being previously mairotied up. just for the sake of the sport and for pleasing friends, Roots are not dug up before 18 months, but plants and from several hundred specimens of Pachyrhynchi, must be so planted that sufficient may be uprooted in about fifteen species I caught, all but half-a-dozen each day throughout the year to feetl the mills in were found on the Guava bushes, where they looked proportion to the capacity of driving power of the settled and at home; the few others were stray steam engine, and the number of cooking pans, hands, individuals, distributed by some cause and trying to and tanks. Tapioca requires a large tract of land, regain their favourite haunts. What did they feed as the soil so soon gets exhausted. A 1,000 acres is upon before the introduction of the Guava ? By-the-bye a fair estate and some have that nearly under culti­ these weevils mimic wonderfully some spiders, so much vation. The market is London, but greatly influenced so that it struck even my Tagal servant who, after by Tapioca coming from Rio and the Brazil, so a while, took readily to beetle hunting, and used to I think it could not be profitably cultivated especi­ call them “ spider-beetles, ” but then you must see ally as land costs so much more in I eylon than them alive and not pinned down in a drawer.— Gardeners’ here. I find that Johore, where I was going first, is Chronicle. rather a snare and a delusion than otherwise. The O s t r ic h F a r m in g i n C a p e C o l o n y .— From time to place is very sickly, and unless one can breathe in a time there appear in your widely read paper com­ miasma, and has a very good situation arranged for munications, as well as reviews on books, relative him, I should not advise his going there. If your to ostrich farming. Advertisements are often inserted friend is still thinking of going, advise him not. The with a view to obtain the investment of the young Maha Raja does not carry out his promises, and at Englishman’s moneys in birds, and as an inducement present every one there holding coffee land is look­ a calculated return of 50 per cent is held out to ing on at the few adventurers. By and bye when him. That 50 per cent, and even more, has been more land is opened up, the place may be a pro­ obtained annually as interest accruing from money sperous country for capital, especially to those who invested in ostriches, there can be no gainsaying; now hold land at S i per acre lor 99 years. Advert­ however, that such a handsome return is not within isements, as yon are aware, I have found out in other the retch of prentice hands ” would probably soon parts of the world, are only flaunted to catch the odd become apparent t ' the investor, and he would find thou-ands of adventurers and speculators, but are not that he had been building his hopes on “ fancies asi to be believed in by hard working poor planters. twinkling ai d vague as the s’ars.”- In any case, such People here get commissions on produce iu addition to a high percentage is the exception rather than thei salary, so they live on their screws and lay by the vale Ostrich farming, nvoperly conducted, is certainly commission, as something to fall back upon.— Ceylon lucrative; but my ad vies to young men coming fromi Times. PITA OR AGAVE, COMMONLY CALLED ALOE. to the Exhibition of 1861, and ropes have been made of the fibres, showing considerable strength. H i n d e e , C a n ta ta ; T a m il , Petha-hala burtha. The agave or pita fibre being so extensively em­ This species of agave, commonly called aloe plants, ployed in different parts of the world, there is no are natives of America, which have become so natur­ doubt that it will become a valuable culture in India. alized in many parts as to appear to b.e indigenous in It was probably introduced into India by the Portu­ Africa, India, and the coasts of the Mediterranean. guese. The species A. vivipara seems to be the same So much is the latter the case, that some authors as th e A. americana of Roxburgh, and A . cantala take this American plant to be the aloe wood men­ had also become naturalized. tioned in Scripture. But there is not the slightest In our cooly districts of Southern India it is very foundation for this opinion, nor indeed for the true abundant, and the method they use in preparing the aloe plants of which the agaves so frequently assume fibre is very simple. The leaves are pressed between the name. The aloes wood of Scripture is the ahila two horns and the pulp washed away. The agave wood of the east, so famed for its fragrance, yielded will grow' in dry climates and poor soil, and is most b y Aquilaria agallochum. suitable to plant in waste and abandoned coffee land. The agave plants, to which the name of American A report published by the Agricultural Society of aloes is so frequently applied, resemble the true aloes India some years ago on the aloe fibre manufactured in their sword-shaped leaves with parallel veins, at one of the jails shews the following resul s which, however, grow to a gigantic size, that is, Aloe fibre rope 1 fathom long and 3 in. from eight to tei* feet in length, in a cluster from in circumference broke in»a weight the root, with their margins usually armed with short of ...... lb, Troy 2,519£ thorn4, and their points with a hard and sharp thorn. Coir do. do. do. do. ... ,, 2,175 This makes these plants so useful in the construction Country hemp do. do. do. ... ,, 2,269 of hedges, a use to which they nre generally applied. Jute do. do. do. do. ... ,, 2,456 These plants come to perfection in about three years, In a trial made at Paris between ropes made of they do not flower for eight, and in some situations hemp and of the aloe from Algiers, the following perhaps not for twenty years, when (hey throw up results were obtained, both being immersed in the a tall candelabra-like flower stalk. This has doubt sea for six months and exposed to the atmosphere given origin to the fable of their flowering only once for the same tim e: — in a hundred years. It is the leaves' of these plants which abound in fibres of great length and of con­ siderable strength. Being also tough and durable, they are separated for the purpose of making string P ita. .5Po Ilem p. and rope, not only in their native countries but also in those into which they have been introduced. The roots as well as leaves contain ligneous fibre, “.pita I - lb. lb. thread,” useful for various purposes. These are separ­ i Plunged in sea... 3,810 Plunged in sea... 2,538 1,272 ated by bruising and steeping in wafer, and after­ i Exposed to air... 3,724 Exposed to air .. 3,022 702 wards beating, practices which 'the natives of India I These experiments prove that the pita fibre is pos- have adopted either from instructions or original ob­ j sess^d of very useful properties. “ Another product,” servation. ' I trust soon to see it quoted in our commercial list. The Mexicans also made their paper of the fibres ' J . A . of agave leaves laid in layers. The expressed juice of the leaves evaporated is stated by Long, in his “ History of Jamaica,” to be TEA AND SILK FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND. useful as a substitute for soap. The fibres of the TO TIIE EDITOR OF “ THE COLONIES AND INDIA.” agave leaves is in Mexico converted into twine, cord, and rope, the last used in mines and the rigging of Sir,—Your interesting paper having been brought slfips. under my notice a few days ago as a valuable medium “ Humboldt describes a bridge over the river for the discussion of Colonial affairs, I hasten to Chambo. in Quifa, 131 feet in span, of which the ' acquaint you with a suggestion referring to New Zea­ main ropes, four inches in diameter, were made of land, which is at present being critically examined the fibres of the agave, and upon these ropes the here, in England, in India, and at the Antipodes. roadway was placed.” The proposal is to commence tea and silk farming as In the West Indies the negroes make ropes, fishing a combined industry in Auckland, and I am encouraged nets, and hammocks, of agave fibre. to submit the scheme to your readers partly on ac­ The fibre is thus prepared : the longest and most count of the favourable reception it has already met useful leaves being cut off are laid upon a board with, and in the hope of eliciting every shade of and scraped with a square iron bar, which is held opinion, so that the undertaking, if generally approved, in both hands, until all the juice and pulp are pressed may be speedily brought to a practical issue. out, the fibres only remaining. In Portugal, Spain, I shall not occupy your space with the reasons and Sicily, the fibre is applied to various purposes. which have led to the s-dection of New Zealand as Pi1 a fibre is extensively used in South America for the scene of the experiment—these .having already even large-sized rope. | appeared in the pages of the Glasgow Herald, N ew The name pita seems to be also applied to similar I Zealand Public Opinionf and Chambers’ Journal—b u t fibres obtained from species of bromelia, yucca, as , shall simply epitomise the chief points of the projected well as agave. The weight of pita fibre being one- | design. sixth less than that of hemp, the difference would ! A comparison of the aptitude of different Colonies be very considerable for the entire rigging of a ship ; for tea and silk culture with the advantages known and produce a sensible reduction in the top weight, | to exist in the c mntries to which these important tmd thus increase the stability of the hull. products are indigenous has resulted in the belief The agave grows well on the north coast of Africa, | that the province of Auckland off rs most, if not all, and its fibre has been paid much attention to by the of the required facilities. Accordingly, the formation French since their occupation of Algeria. I of a public company, to commence and prosecute the When fodder is scarce, cattle will eat the younger combined industries, has been for some little time leaves when cut into transverse slices. I and is now being advocated. The special objects to A cloak and paper made of this fibre were sent | be accomplished are :— 77 1. The acquisition of a tract of perhaps 30,000 land would become available, and the farmers, labour­ acres in New Zealand, for the purposes partly of a ers, and others would provide food for the Colony, Land Settlement Association, and partly for the in­ and furnish a supply of reliable outdoor labour for auguration and prosecution of tea production and emergencies. sericiculture. I have no hesitation in appealing to the phil­ 2. The affording of pleasant and remunerative em­ anthropists of both sexes throughout the British Empire ployment to women and girls. in favour of the proposal to employ women and girls 3. The attraction of the aborigines to systematised of education in some of the more delicate nnuipula* habits of usefulness. tions connected with the production of both tea It has been suggested that the proposed tea and and silk. Every year numbers of delicately-nurtured silk farming operations should be conducted some­ and well-educated females are, through death, mis­ what as follows :—An expanse of say 3,000 of acres fortune, or other causes, left destitute. Many of these suitable land having been selected, the area to be ladies, although unable perhaps to support themselves gradually planted with tea and mulberry shrubs at becomingly at home after a crisis, would prove valu­ the rate of 100 or more acres of each per annum, able assistants in the operation of tea and silk culture according to the capital subscribed. Meanwhile other in one or other of the Colonies, and in such service lucrative articles of commerce, such as grapes, oranges, find a comfortable and independent refuge. “ They lemons, small fruit, honey, sugar, &c., might have know nothing about the management of either pro­ portions of the estate assigned to their special pro­ duct,” it may be urged. True, perhaps, jet they duction, most of them*yielding a more encouraging might learn. It so happens that the opportunity of return generally than that from ordinary farming. gaining instruction in the mysteries of at least the During the time the tea and. mulberry bushes were silk industry from ladies like themselves may very maturing, the former in four years and the latter in soon be brought within reach. Along the Levant, two years if transplanted when two years old—no silk in its various forms is largely produced under income from their produce would accrue; but these purely domestic circumstances by many respectable periods would be partly employed in erecting the European ladies, who, I am told by an eminent authority necessary buildings, digging, and arranging water- at present in London, 11 piece out zi subsistence services, fixing water-wheels, erecting the machinery by this occupation.” Among these ladies it is believed required, and extending the cultivation and develop­ there are some English widows with daughters, left ment of the whole estate. In the course of the second with small means, who would doubtless be only too year, the first of the mulberry leaf crop would be glad to go to New Zealand among their country­ ready for plucking, when, all being in a state of women, and give practical lessons in their interesting preparation and wages moderate, a return in cocoons, avocation. raw silk, and grain, of probably £80 per acre might There are many points connected with the proposal be anticipated. It may not ba out of place at this as a whole, which would require more space than I point to mention that, considerable as this estimate could expect any journal to afford for their elucidation. may appear, it is dwarfed by the average returns Enough has perhaps been said for the present, how­ from agriculture in America—which are sometimes ever, to extend the feeling of interest in the enter­ £93 per ucre for honey alone—and from oranges in prise which has already been created, and I shall be New South Wales, where certain groves possess indi­ happy to reply to any bona fid e enquiry concerning vidual trees which for twenty years have yielded it which may be addressed as below.—I remain, &c., three hundred dozens of oranges each, showing a J u ly 2 1 . W i l l i a m C o c h r a n . gross return of £500 p-r acre per annum. Indeed, the experience of mulberry-growing in other patts of the world teaches that well-situated and thoroughly- THE CULTIVATION OF BAMBOO. cultivated areas, of twenty-five-year-old bushes double (From th e Indian Tea Gazette, 6th August 1881.) their yi-ld after five years in situ, when, of course, Happening to take up the Indian Agriculturalist the harvest of cocoons may be double also. for 2nd June 1879, containing the report of a meeting Until the fourth year, as already stated, there would at the Society of Arts on March 7th, 1879, I could be no appreciable re'urn from the acreage under tea, hardly believe my eyes as I read therein the opinions but during that season leaf-gathering would commence, of some of the speakers. The exhibition of so much which, according to Chinese and Indian observation, ignorance, by earnest men met to discuss and forward would annually improve up to about the twelfth year, an economic question of moment, was humiliating, when renewals of the plants might be required. Tea- and Mr. Routledge himself seemed as much in the growing at the Antipodes not having yet been at­ dark as any of them. tempted on a commercial scale, it would be premature At page 200 he says: “ The young bamboo sprang to hazard an opinion as to the probable return per from the seed of the old plant, and it took about acre from this source. But having regard to the very 15 years before it became silicious. No matter what suitable climate offered iu Auckland, especially for species it might be, it went on maturing for a aeries teas of the China and Japanese type; recollecting oi years, and being an entogenous plant, it grew that the demand on the spot is at present about until the inside g >t filled up and it could grow no one and a half million lb per annum, with a con­ longer. It could then no longer transmit the sap, its stantly increasing tendency ; and keeping in view the pores or vessels became ossified, like the veins of circumstance that New Z -alan^l-grown tea would not an old man, and it died having first seeded.” Now be 8-ddled with the expensive items of inland con­ there are some 14 or 15 kinds out here in Eastern veyance and freight to a distant country, which Bengal that I know pretty well, have planted Baries handicap the products of China, India, and Ceylon, and cropped them for some 12 years, yet I must say experts who hive studied the mutter are of opinion there is not one single statement in the quotation that, after allowing liberally for higher-priced labour, that is accurate, even approximately. the cost of producing tea in this Colony will probably The Bamboos here vary greatly in kind, in size, compare most favourably with the outlay elsewhere. modes of propagation, in value, &c., but taking the One of she early effects of the prosperous initia­ most common and most useful one, the “ Jati ” (or tion of tea and silk farming would be the immediate one with best jat) let us compare notes. 1st.—It does influx of the numerous kindred professions, arts, and not seed, and is propagated, like most others, by a trades which iu older communities are invariably young root and piece oi stem 8 or 10 feet long trans­ found clustering around the chief centres of import­ planted.- 2nd.—These stocks are of young and not ant industries. To accomodate these, the surrounding “ old plant.” 3rd.—The Bamboo generally becomes silicious (?) at 2 ar.d Sand not 15 years old.* 4tli.— 6 or 8 joints above the ground; here or there a All species do not take a series of years to mature ; small whip-like shoot may rise to 16 or 20 feet. In some mature in 2, others in 6 to 12 years. 5th.— the 2nd year, About the end of June, larger shcots The Bamboo attains generally its full height, girth will rise, growing 4 or 5 inches per day and up to and thickness of walls in 1 year, and the latter do 20 or 30 feet, with girth of 4 or 5 inches. In the not grow thicker and thicker yearly, agd eventually 3rd year still larger ones will grow, and all the time cause death. creepers should be now and then cut away. In the One gentleman—Mr. Cobb—stated that the Chinese 4th year full-sized grow th may be expected, i. e., shoots “ let some grow so large that they make buckets of 50 feet high with stems of 8 and 9 inches round, and them,” ! as we might say of a knowing fellow who the number of such should about equal and double let his pony' alone so as to grow into a horse ! This the number of stems first planted. Each year thence applied to the “ Ming” Bamboo of the Nagas, a should add 50 per cent to the numbers, if in fair peculiar species, and if anything larger when young soil, and in the 8th or 9th year there should be than when old. These I give as samples of the facts some 3,000 full sized stems, mature enough to cut, guiding (?) the meeting. It seems to me the best per acre per annum. thing Mr. Boutledge could have doue would be to For building purposes or making use in the ground, pick out some 2 or 3 of the most likely kinds, clumped no bamboo should be cut of less than 4 years’ old, or gregarious, cultivated or wild, and have learnt all and should be steeped a month iu water. “ Jatis ” about them. Instead of this, stray facts, relating to increase in value with age up to 12 or 14 years, after perhaps a hundred species, have been collected, mixed, which they gradually “ dry up,” turn yellow and and poured out, resulting, as we might guess, in a die. If grown in the open they are often short, nice mess. Undoubtedly there are enormous areas all small and solid; those in shade, are tall, large and through the hill tracts of Eastern B-ngal where the thinner walled. If required for tying or rude ropes, Bamboo grows rampant, and could supply the demand only the young ones of 1 or 2 years old are used. until it was systematically cultivated for fibre, and From having more water and less wood, they are this, I take it, is the object in view. Now the more easily twisted, and a whole stem can be at once leading fact in this case is one that Mr. E. seems used in this way, though it is more usual to split not to have grasped, and may account for the diverg­ and then twist them. When split up very small it ence between him and Dr. King, i. e., th a t th e is called “ Tougal.” most likely cultivated kinds do not propagate by It seems extremely probable that young stems would seal or from old stems, but shoot up from the very furnish more and better pulp than old ones. In cut­ kind be wants to cut! away, i.e ., th o young ste m s; ting bamboos out, old ones should be cut. at or near cropping the young stems (from which alone pulp the ground, and young ones 5 or 6 feet above, as should be made) cripples the propagation. What he the old ones do not readily throw out shoots needs to leave is what he also wants to take away : or new sprouts, while the young ones do if some foliage a case of eating his cake and yet having it. Even is left on, and this leads at once to the solution of the if he takes but a few here and there, it is still the difficulty that lay between Mr. Routledge and Dr. same in the end : what he gains in crop for fibre, he ' K ing, i. e., that cropping of the young bamboos (near loses in propagation, and this in the cultivated kind the ground) cripples the propagation, whereas if §rds *is no small difficulty. This is Mr. Routledge’s parti­ are cut at say 6 or 8 feet high, enough is left to cular nut, and not an easy one to crack, you would keep up the supply of new shoots, provided of course say, if you knew the facts thoroughly. As it bears th e Joliage is encouraged on the part left. The re­ on this matter—but also because it may be of use to maining Jrd is left altogether, and only cut when so many of your readets—I will describe shortly the old, i. e., useless for propagation and useful for building. way to plant a Bamboo Bari. Firstly, the site should I have cut 300 bamboos for one rupee out of a Bari, be above swamp level, and secondly, near enough to and as they are often 16 for the Rupee in the villages the station to be watched, so as to keep out pigs, for Tea Factory building, a Bari is a source of great cows, elephants, and thieves. If grass laud, it may saving, and in a few[ years pays its cost many scores be cleared and burnt, though this is not absolutely of times over.—S. E. P. necessary ; if forest, it should be cleared, and then the lines laid out about 20 or 24 feet apart, and SERICULTURE. holes of 2 feet x 2 dug about every 12 or 16 feet in these rows, each hole to take 2 or 3 root stocks. The following are a few interesting figures which If Jati Bamboo is to be planted, the root-stems of may prove useful to silk growers :— young ones should be selected, say of one or at most Weight of Cocoons.—This varies with the breed and 2 years old, and which can be known by the white feeding. Pasteur calculates that 1 kilogramme contains band round the stem just above each joint. The 785 to 921 cocoons of the Japanese sort, 505 to 726 root should be carefully bared and the stem cut cocoons of the Italian yellow sort. Comalia found above it at 10 or 12 feet, foliage left on. When dug that 360 cocoons of the Meldola sort weigh 1 kilogramme. out the stem and root will look like the letter J., Loss of Weight in Cocoons.—This is caused by time and care should be taken not to injure the eyes on of keeping. Dandola found that at a temperature of the lower bent part, as it is from these (3 or 4 on 17 deg. It. 1,000 kilos, of cocoons was reduced to— each side) that the future Bamboos shoot. February K ilos -991 -982 -975 970 '966 960 952 or March is a good time, and the early rains in N um ber April will prevent these steins drying up. It is a of days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 good way to plant these root stems slightly inclining ■943 -934 -925 outwards, and have them well tamped in, with some 8 9 10 rubbish thrown over as shade for the ground. In Weight of the various parts of the Cocoons.—By the Kacliari country and from Borpettah past Nol taking at 1,000 the weight of the whole cocoon— Bari, Komalpur, and Darang, where there is no build­ The chrysalis alive weighs from 830 to 850 ing timber, fine Bamboo Baries are seen, and in many The refuse of chrysalis ,, 4 to 9 cases a large square of an acre or .so has the outer The clean cocoon ,, ,, _ 140 to 166 rows all round of the Buluka Bamboo,—a stronger After the moth has left the cocoon in 1,000 part^ kind both as protection from storms and as posts for of th e m — buildings, bridges. &c. Refuse of moth 5 to 6 During the 1st year very little more may shew Remains of chrysalis ...... 7 to 9 than an addition to the foliage sprouting from the Clean pure Cocoon ...... 140 to 163 Number of Eggs.—Malpighi bas found that the i » BARREN APRICOTS, &c. number of eggs deposited at one .laying is generally TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ AUSTRALASIAN. ” 404 or 516, and sometimes only 446. As an exception | he met once with only 393, without taking into account j S i r ,—I planted a lot of apricots about 16 years ago,. any which may have remained in the ovaries. : they are splendid trees, touching one another at 24ft. According to Barti-Pichet, 100 females deposit at apart, they bloom splendidly, and every flower looks | perfect, yet «some of them never bear a single fruit, one laying 40,000 to 45,000 eggs, 108 females of the Trivoltiue sort are required for one ounce of eggs, 1 some three or four, and some about a dozen. I have 100 females of the common sort, 95 of the large, and tried all plans that I could think of except pulling ! them up or grafting. The last advice I saw in T he 105 to 110 of the Japanese. Australasian was let them grow ; what would you advise Number of Eggs in an Ounce. — 1 ounce of 30 grammes j me do with them now ? Please tell mo the best of eggs was found to contain— 27.000 eggs of the Trivoltine breed. | stock to graft apricots on. I also planted at the same time a lot of damsons, they bloom every year, flower 39.000 ,, common ,, 37.000 ,, largo ,, all perfect, aud yet they only commenced to bear 1 ounce of 25 grammes of eggs was found to con­ fruit about three years ago little bigger than marbles and that falls off after a time. What would you ta in — 33,550 to 37,000 of the yellow breed. advise me to do with this lot? I put in a lot of 48.000 to 51,900 ,, Japanese breed. Muscat of Alexandria vines ; for about five years they Eggs which are deposited from the first are little looked all right, about the sixth year I detected larger than those from the second, average number black spots on them. I tried all plans that I could think or hear of, such as lime, sulphur, soot, and in one ounce 48,000 eggs. ashes. I have kept them extra clean, as they were Weight of each Lay of Eggs.—To find out this without removing the eggs from the cloths or cards, the favourite grape in the kitchen. The whole of the the basis of the calculation is to take the weight ground where the above are planted is hand trenched of each separate laying. It is known that to obtain from 18in. to 2ft. with drains through. Rutherglen. J. C. the weight of two grammes it requires 5 lays of the large French breed. [In the absence of information regarding the character 6 ,, common ,, of the soil and sub-soil, it is almost impossible to offer 7 ,, Japanese ,, advice on the management of your apricots, which we From this we can conclude that to make up 25 note bloom finely, but do not bear. We should, how­ grammes there is required— ever, be inclined to try root-pruning in this case. It 63 lays of the first sort might be tried at once on a few of the more vigorous. 70 ,, second ,, As a further experiment we would take a few indies 75 ,, th ird ,, off each of the shoots of other trees. From the re­ To make up one ounce of grammes 70, 84, 90, respect­ sults an indication may be gleaned of the proper ively, to make up one ounce of 30 grammes, 75, 95, course to pursue with the whole. The damsons also 105, respeciiVely.—Journal of Applied Science. may be similarly treated, i. e., a portion be root-pruned, another portion be slightly branch-pruned. The proper stocks for apricots are seedling apricots ; the cherry plum is also a good stock, and would be likely to answer with you. There is some reason to suspect RUST-PROOF WHEAT. that the drains, at so shallow a depth as 2ft., dry the (From th e Queenslander.) soil early and thus conduce to the dropping of the fruit. In your climate drains, where employed, should It is to be be hoped some of our farmers have this be fully four feet deep. For what reasons were drains year experimented with the Champlain and Defiance regarded as necessary ? You do not state what is now wheats, which were last year introduced into South amiss w'ith your lints.— E d . A ustralasian .] Australia by Dr. Schomburgk, and into New South Wales by Mr. Dunnicliff, of Burrawong. As most of our readers are aware, they were supposed to be rust­ QUANTITY WITH QUALITY. proof, but this characteristic was not entirely borne out hy last year’s experience. Mr. Dunnicliffs plots TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE “ INDIAN TEA GAZETTE.” told almost conclusively in favoul of their resisting Sib,—As some planters may at times make teas to send rust. Dr. Schomburgk distributed 100 parcels of the home direct, let me offer a few suggestions to the seed, and received thirty-nine replies from farmers new ones (old Planters are warned off) as coming from as to the results after harvest. Of these, ten reported one who has had some little experience of sending that the rust had attacked both kinds more or less, teas to England direct for retail sale (not for sale on but in no instance to the injury of the grain, which the wholesale market, as in the latter case of course was plump and well developed. The' other twenty- the same teas as those made for Calcutta are required). nine reports were to the effect that the wheat had 1 st. Make your tea intended for home separately most effectually resisted the rust, although the entire from your Calcutta or wholesale teas. crop of wheat if other varieties—especially the purple- ‘In d . Make it in the middle of the season, not at straw—had in some instances been destroyed by the the beginning or end. disease. Whether Mr. E. W ay’s experience at the Too­ 3rd. Ferment to a copper colour, and aim for dark, woomba gardens—that rust-proof varieties retain that smooth, full liquor. characteristic only for the first year of their culture ilk . Fire rather highly and briskly, but don’t in Australia—will be borne out by this present year’s bu rn . experiments in South Australia, is a point of great bill. Don’t sort in any way whatever, but pass all interest to all our wheat-growers. The Champlain the rough tea through a single sieve. If _for Ireland is said to be rather flinty, and it is thought that it or North of England, the smaller it is the better, will not produce the fine flour the farmers have been and no matter how dusty. In sieving send the Pekoe used to getting from their wheats; but we suspect and small tea through first by shaking ; break the that a certain amount of tlintiness—that is, an excess rest through. Some firms of large retail business at of siliia—is a characteristic inseparable from a wheat home have now taken to breaking up all their teas whose constitution is such as to make it capable of to about the size of broken Pekoe, only very dusty. resisting rust. This was possibly owing in the first instance to a prejudice for teas of the appearance of B. P. The Fine, a proportion Good Medium, and the remainder advantage of this to the dealers in being able to good useful Pekoe Souchong, and Souchong, and a buy our dust so cheap, as they have beeu able to of small percentage broken Tea. List year’s results all late, is obvious. Above all things don't send home tend to prove that the British public have decidedly to friends a white elenhant in the shape of Assam shown taste for Indian Teas, and it now remains Orange* P ekoe : even Pekoe is too strong. Y ou w ouldn’t for the grower to meet the trade demands.— E d . I n d ia n drink it yourselves with your taste already accustomed T e a G a z e t t e .] to Indian teas; how do you expect your friends to? As regards difficulty in separating fine leaf from coarse without injury before manufacture, has he ever tried a cylindrical sieve of large mesh (different for C a m p h o r . —T h e Journal o f Applied Science, in a n o te China aud Assam leaf) say 9 feet long by 3', 6" in on the Camphor Forests of Sumatra, states that the diameter, and working round on an axle placed at trees yielding Borneo or Sumatra camphor (D ryobalanops an angle of about 8° to 10°, through which to sieve arom atica) in large quantity are now becoming rare. h is withered leaf ? mesh nearly 1 inch. This some­ Owing to the great demand for the sulphur by the times requires the * ‘ Pekoe Souchong ” leaf to be Chinese, who use it to embalm their dead, the plucked like the “ Souchong,” separately from the Battaks cut clown the trees recklessly and without Pekoe stem. This allows the old leaf to be rolled, planting young ones. The camphor is said to fetch fermented, and fired separately from the fine tea,— 10,000 guilders per picul ( 135 lb. ) in the Singapore a great advantage to the latter, quite compensated market. The gutta-percha trees in the Sumatra fore-ts for by the little extra trouble in plucking. This leads are being treated in the same way. It is remarkable, me to join issue with your correspondent “ J. A. II. J .” however, that the Battaks take great care that fret-h when he says that by making les.% the fine tea would benzoin trees replace those they cut down, by scatter­ fetch more than it did when quantity was made. ing the seed on the ground. The camphor and gutta­ T h e tea, i e., withered leaf, being sieved as above, percha trees require more care and trouble in plant­ and the tea-house accommodation being in proper ing, hence this is neglected. proportion to the outturn, I do not see why the fine Seeds.—In a note in N a tu re ( May 26, p. SO ),com­ teas should have had any better chance had they municated- by Mr. W. Carter, an account is given of been plucked without the coarse, as they never came the effect of pressure. on the germination of seeds. He in contact with the latter after being sieved before found that under a pressure of two and-a-half atmo­ rolling. spheres mustard seed germinated twenty-five hours I will accept for the sake of argument your earlier than when under the ordinary pressure of the correspondent “ Twice Two’s ” figur« s as given in your atmosphere, but that the early development became last issue. He mentions two experiences, viz., 2 permanently arrested during the eight days of the annas 1*60 pie per lb. and 1 anna 4*75 pie per lb. experiment, and the cotyledons of one that had es­ as the cost of plucking and manufacture. Let us caped entirely from the seed coat remained as etiol­ take nearly the mean of these two, say 1 anna 9 pie ated as if grown in absolute darkness, while tho?e as a fair guide. Then the 405£ maunds “ trash” under ordinary pressure grew rapidly and their coty­ would have cost ledons became of a deep green colour. The eti-dated E. 3,548 say for plucking and manufacture. plants, when removed from the pressure, rapidly grew ,, 2,000 boxes and charcoal (pluckings) into vigorous young plants. An increased pressure ,, 811 freight w’ould therefore seem to stimulate germination and ,, 200 Calcutta charges. prevent the formation of chlorophyll. The pressure was obtained by the use of a column of mercury. The Say totaIR6,559 seeds were sown on moist cotton wool, placed in a and these teas fetched R10,732. ! small bottle, which was then secured to the curved This profit of over (>0 per cent between leaving extremity of a glass tube, into the long arm of which the tea on the bushes and taking it off, plus the mercury was poured until it reached a height of fact that the next flush in a healthy A ssam G arden forty-five inches above the level ef the metal in the w ould be benefitted, and the further fact that the shorter arm. general average cost price per lb. of the factory’s P eacii P r u n in g .—I n the majoiity of crises this r ork outturn would be reduced, all taken together might is left till the wfinter or spring, but I see that Mr. be used as arguments in favor of quantity with quality, Wallis, of Orwell Park, like a few others of the best but I think my case is strong enough on other grounds cultivators, thins his trees in the houses directly the not to require support from these, though I mention fruit is off; thus fully exposing the whole of the young them in passing, for what they are worth* wood well to the light, and giving it every chance “ T h e C h ie l a m a n g y e .” of ripening off early, which shoots cannot do when [We agree that if none but fine qualities were sent buried up under their foliage. Not only does the home w?e should be ruined; but making fine, good, thinning g: eatly aid the ripening process, but it and good medium, is very different from flooding the assists the trees materially in plumping up and perfecting market in too great quantity with weak liquory kinds their buds, without which the flowers must of necessi­ which cannot compete, to pay, with China Congous. ty be small, and their setting uncertain. With 6ood On this subject we cannot do better than conclude fat buds that result in big bold blooms, the organs with the following extract from Messrs. Gow and are sure to be right, and when that is the case a Wilson’s Circular :—“ Fine” plucking means a consider­ crop of fruit and its safe stoning is almost certain to able percentage off the crop, and we trust those who follow, for the success of next year, as regards Peaches have adopted this system have thoroughly satisfied and Nectarines, depends in a very great measure on themselves that better returns will be shown from the doings of this. Even more important perhaps than higher prices for diminished production. The question the thinning of the wood, is the keeping of the foliage arises whether the simultaneously adopted policy of clean and free from red-spider, which can only be production of Fine Teas will not adversely affect the done during such hot weather as we have recently prices of high-class descriptions. Owners will really had by the aid of a good garden engine or syringe, be consulting their interests by striving to understand and a thorough soaking of water at the roots, as the requirements of the trade, and every endeavour ! dryness, either in the air or border, brings on languor, should be made to get the largest possible yield out | insects, and weakness sooner than anything else.—F. of a garden; the “ sorting,” to show a proportion | S .— Gardeners' Ch'onicle. 78 £ot;respoMence, tions. In the case of cattle, we learn that con­ tinual in-breeding impairs the constitution, and affects the procreative powers. No one will To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. deny that coffee has not the strength and vigour that it used to have, and this is generally laid -SELF-FERTILIZED COFFEE FLOWERS ’ down to the effects of leaf disease : it is more AGAIN, than probable that leaf disease is one of the effects, and not the cause, of want of vigour in the tree. If M askeliya, 9tli A ugust 1SS1. the constitution, so to speak, of the tree had not pre­ D ear cir,—I would wish to add a few remarks to viously been impaired, disease would not have shown a letter of mine, which you published iu your valu­ itself, or at auy rate the tree would have been able able journal a short time ago, concerning “self-fertil­ to have shaken it off in a short time. Disease can be ized coffee flowers and the result” ; and any subject kept jiuder, as it were, by a liberal application of connect'd with our principal product, if well ventil­ stimulants, but it can only be kept so for a certain ated and discussed, cannot but be beneficial to our period, for the shattered constitution must eventually knowledge of its successful cultivation. I drew at­ give way ; and it follows that, if the constitution be tention to the fact, that Darwin (who is our greatest gone, the procreative powers become exhausted. It authority on this subject) had said, that “ if self- may be said that, if leaf disease is a result, indirectly, fertilization was continued through several generations, of an impaired constitution in plants grown from a the plant at length becomes altogether sterile” ; a n d young generation of self-fertilized seed, how is it that also that “nature abhors perpetual self-fertilization.” old coffee is attacked ? The old trees have their age, As an instance of the latter, if we look into and consequent weakness, against them, and living as Youatt’s book 011 Cattle, their, breeds and manage­ they do, in an atmosphere contaminated by an epi­ ment, we read :—“The breeding from close affinities demic of such a virulent type, must naturally be ex­ —the breeding in and in—hits many advantages to a pected to receive some of the seeds of the disease. certain extent. It may be pursued until the excellent That coffee can be easily cross-fertilized, I have no form and quality of the breed is developed and estab­ doubt, as I have succeeded in doing so, by removing lished. It was the sourap whence sprung the cattle the stamens from flowers, whilst in spike, and after­ and the sheep of Bake well, and thi superior cattle of wards, when fully opened, depositing on the stigmas Coiling; and to it must also he traced the speedy pollen from another tree : these set well, and will, I degeneracy—the absolute disappearance of the new hope, he shortly ripe enough to sow. At the same Leicester cattle, and in the hands of many an agri­ time, to test the possibility of their having set in spike, culturist, the impairment of constitution, and de­ stamens from other flowers were also removed, mid creased value of the new Leicester shee p and the short­ nothing further done to the flowers : none of these horned beasts.” The Rev. H. Berry in his Prize set. Not being a proprietor, and so liable to be Essay remarks that “close breeding, from affinities, moved at any time, I am not in a position to try this impairs the constitution, and affects the procreative to any extent ; but any one who could afford the time powers, and therefore a strong cross is occasionally and had the inclination to experiment upon it, and prove necessary. In the breeding of horses and greyhounds its practicability on a large scale, would confer a for racing and sporting purpose?, it is a well known boon upon future planters, by being able eventually to fact that it is arranged that (in stud parlance), supply plants which might be designated disease-proof. the breeding should be twice in and once out; so Another interesting and at the same time valuable that a cross every now and then may stop any experiment would be the fertilizing of the ovules of bad effects from close affinities. Further, in the Arabian coffee, by pollen obtained from the Liberian human race, it has been proved that intermarriage variety, and vice versa.—Faithfully yours, SWADDY. continuously between close relations has led to most pernicious results. ALOE FIBRE. If we take these facts which relate to mammalia, Auchintoul estate, Belihuloya, 13th Aug. 1881. as being equally applicable to other systems of life, D e a r S i r , —Some time ago I noticed a letter in such as the vegetable kingdom, we must allow" that your paper re aloe fibre, which induced me to try laws that act on the one will act in a similar man­ the experiment, and I have now the pleasure of en­ ner on the other, and therefore what will produc- closing you samples shewing the result. degeneracy in the one will have an equally dee • I may mr-ntion that I have about CO tons now leterious effect on the other. Now in plant life, we uuder treatment (of course this will only turn out have a very large proportion of flowers that are so six tons eof fibre).—I am, dear sir. yours faithfully, constructed as to preclude all possibility of self fer­ tilisation : some by having male and female flowers, w . McD o n a l d y o u n g . amd othvrs that have been so formed as to prevent [The samples are very satisfactory : we sent them fertilization,' except by extraneous aid, generally per­ round the Fort, so there ought to be a demand for formed by the help of various kinds of insects. Coffee our correspondent's 6 tons !—Ed.] is like mither of these,* it is a self-fertilizer, and has, unfortunately for the present generation, obeyed the common law of nature, and degenerated, estates CINCHONA STUMPS. ©peue i during the last ten years or so have a similar 15th A ug. 1881- soil to those of thirty years past. Old planters of D e a r S i r , —Your correspondent “ Ignoramus ” asks long standing have said for the last two or three for information regarding cinchona stumps, and I take year-1, that the seasons have returned to the old the liberty of replying to him : standard : we cannot row blame inferior soil or extra­ 1. Officinalis is p-efevable to succirubra, owing prob­ ordinary weather for the want of crops. How is it ably to the roots being smaller. that old estates' of thirty and more years working 2. The plants should be stumped after being pulled compare favourably in their hearing capacities with out of the nursery and before planting. Stumping the younger districts ? For the last forty years, them while in the mmery and allowing them to clearings have been planted from steel taken from remain induces them to sprout, and the suckers will trees grown in previous clearings, and which we have be damaged in being planted out. no reason to doubt sprang originally from one parent 3. I heard of no objection and everything in their stock ; consequently our present young trees are from favor. The roots should be trimmed with a sharp seed which has been self-fertilized for several genera- ■ knife, as in the case of coffee stumps, and the' plant stumped about S inches above the roots. Stumps will CEYLON AT THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. grow almost in any weather, if the soil is free and damp. The tree afterwards has a firmer hold than if it C e y l o n a n d I n d ia n T e a s i n A u s t r a l ia . had been a plant, and in some cases does away with Melbourne, 1st Aug, 1SS1. the necessity of staking. In some" very wet and cold On returning I find Mr. Moody of Messrs. Jas. districts they may not succeed so well, but- in Dim- Henty & Co. as active and earnest as ever in the cause bula and Dikoya they succeed perfectly. On Erlsmere of Indian and Ceylon teas. There is to be an extens­ estate in Dikoya, some officinalis trees were pointed ive sale of the former on the 4th of this month, and at out to me as having been grown from stumps. They the end oftlie catalogue there is a note to this effect :— were only two years old and magnificent trees for “ The Importers challenge comparison against the the age. The percentage of deaths is trifling, com­ Indian teas for leaf, for strengtli, flavour and analysis pared to that of plants, and I strongly advise planters against all or any of the China teas imported this season,” to p lan t stumps, if they can get them.—Yours truly, Comparative analyses are appended which I hope CINCHONA. will be copied into the Observer, as Mr. Moody tells me he has sent copies of the catalogue of the little pam­ WOOD ASHES. phlet which I enclose. Of this pamphlet 10,000 copies have been distributed and 5,000 more are being printed. Gas Testing Ptooms, Colombo, 19th August 18S1. Mr. Moody tells me that some of the Rook wood teas Sib,—I send you analysis of a remarkable sample and those from Messrs. W hittall & Co. which have of wood ashes received from Mr. Elphinstone, reached him recently are of high quality, but others passed through a sieve having 900 meshes to the (big leaf, on the one band, aud dust on the other) are square inch, 1"71 per cent of quartz was seperated; the not so suitable for this market. About this Mr. remainder had the following composition :— Moody, says he has written. While I am writing Mr. p er cent. Moody brings me a specimen of stuff, coarse and M oisture • "38 mouldy which Mr. Rowbotham has attempted in vain Insoluble silica ... 2-35 to sell by auction as Ceylon tea. Mr, Moody says Soluble silica •26 it is damaged, and he can scarcely believe it is Ceylon Oxide of iron and alumina •75 tea. The attempt to sell such trash as our produce •Lime ...... 56 00 is exceedingly injurious to the interests of pure Ceylon M agnesia •37 tea. A. M. FERGUSON. P o tash •54 Phosphoric acid . . T race * INDIAN TEA. Carbonic acid and other consti- qq.oK tu en ts S e a s o n 1SS1-1882. M e l b o u r n e , 20th J u ly 1881. 100 00 The Calcutta Tea Syndicate, in conjunction with * equal to carbonate of lime 100 00 the Government of India, have determined to carry The remarkable feature of the sample is that it con­ on their operations during Season 1881-1882, with tains more lime than coral or the purest limestone; the hope of establishing on a firm basis the tea trade indeed after separating the small proportion of quartz between Australia and India. foreign to it, it contains as much lime as chemically During the last twelve months the export of lea pure and dry carbonate of lime, A portion of the from India to Australasia amounts to about 1,000,000 lime is in the caustic state. M. COCHRAN. lb. weight, of which quantity 071,000 lb. weight was actually sold in Melbourne. With the experience derived from the past season’s CINCHONA CULTIVATION. operations, the Syndicate will be able to improve their Maskeliya, 20th August. selection of teas for the Australian markets, and eveiy attention will be paid to having the bulk e D e a r S i r , —Your correspondent “ Cinchona” advises stumping off plants at eight inches. My experience uniform quality ; and the various requirements of Tea is that four inches from the collar is quite suffi­ Merchants, Blenders, and Consumers will have care­ cient. The object 10 be gained is to secure a ful consideration, and shall be.complied with. , greater girth of stem and a corresponding increase in India, with her tea gardens at altitudes of from 400 the solidity and stamina of the tree. to 7,000 feet above the sea level, her climate and rich The Erlsmere trees referred to are certainly very soil, possesses advantages unequalled in the world. wonderful examples of what stumped plants may Her teas are prepared under the immediate super­ become, but it must be remembered that there is pro­ vision of Europeans, and with the help of the best bably not in the island a finer soil or more congenial machinery procurable, and many of the Indian lea climate for the growth of cinchona, than is to be growths are as much in repute as some of the far-famed found on that estate. The plants therefore having vintages in France. been stumped does not entirely account for their rapid N. B.—Mr. James Inglis, Commissioner for India to and vigorous growth.—Y ours truly, the Melbourne International Exhibition, in a letter to the A rg u s dated 25th June, 1831, says— STUMPSO. “ There has never yet been placed on record an instance of adulterated tea having been sent from an Indian wart house. I challenge the world to show one instance. The tea is made by our fellow-subjects, Corea.—Dr. Frank Cowan, an American, who has under the direct supervision of our fellow-country men, just returned to Japan from a trip in Corea, says :— who drink our wine, wear our wool, ride our horses, “ With respect to gold, I am of opinion that the burn our candles, long for our beef, cry out for our next of the countries on the golden rim of the Pacific, timbers, want our flour, our fruits, our hops, our dairy after Peru, California, and Australia, to disturb the produce, and who have never yet in one solitary monetary equilibrium of the world, will be Corea. instance turned out anything but pure, aromatic, From Fusan to Genzanshin, or the Gold Mountain, fragrant, and genuine tea.” a distance of 310 miles, the geologic structure "is not Mr. A. M. Ferguson, Commissioner for Ceylon to the incompatible with the theory that the whole region Melbourne International Exhibition, in a letter to the is productive of the precious metal.”— Madras Mail, Aejr, dated 15th June, 1881, says— “ Teas grown, prepared, and shipped by men of the N.B.—The result in favour of Indian teas is too British race are certain to be genuine. * * * What marked to need further comment. Many of the China I should like to impress upon tea consumers here is that, teas will not pass the standard of a genuine tea. although the teas of India and Ceylon may occasionally be Mr. J. O. Moody, Tea Expert, in a letter to the defective in make (a fault that is sure to be remedied as A rgus, dated 5th July, says— experience is obtained), the genuineness of such teas, their “ Perhaps the extract of tea, or that part drunk purity, freedom from adulteration with foreign or de­ in the infusion -or cup of tea, is the most important leterious substances, and perfect wholesomeness can and no tea should fall below 30 (the standard at always be relied upon. If tea drinkers will only home). Some of the Indian and Ceylon teas go to persevere in the use of even the harshest Assam tea, 52. This extract contains the essential oil or flavonr they will soon find themselves not only reconciled which pleases the palate, and the active principle, to the infusion, but'inost unwilling to return to the theine (tasteless)which mostly invigorates the drinker,* weaker China stimulant. Where cream or rich milk Again to another paper, under date 3rd June, the is so plentiful as in this favoured land, the experi­ same writer says : — ence of the north of Ireland may be repeated. There “ Hops deteriorate by keeping, owing to oxidation people of limited means long ago discovered that pure, of the essential oil, a chemical process well known to strong Assam tea at 4s. per lb. was cheaper, as well scientists, and which gives the old hops their ‘faintish* as better, than weak and perhaps adulterated China or ‘cheesy’ flavour, most strikingly brought into leaf at 2s. Making a strong infusion, they half-fill prominence when new pickings come to hand ; the the cup, and then fill up with rich milk. To those contrast between I he two is then so great that it —and they are the vast majority—who like milk or usually causes a fall in price of pence per lb. on cream in their tea, this is the very perfection of the old hops. Exactly the same thing goes on in the China cup which cheers, but not inebriates.” teas, and has been most noticeable for many seasons Messrs. Cosmo Newbery and Frederic Dunn, of past, and well do holders know the risk and loss of the Industrial and Technological Museum Laborat­ retainirg this class of tea till the arrival of a new ory, sa y .— season’s growth. The bulk of Indian teas, on the “ Genuine tea contains between 4 and 6 per cent, contrary, seem to ripen with age, and are famed ior of mineral matter, 3 per cent, of which consists of their good keeping qualities. Samples of these teas, soluble salts, and yields, in its ordinary air-dried after five of six year’s time, have been found to condition extract ranging from 32 per cent to over have well preserved their flavour aud good qualities. SO per cent. As a rule, the younger and better the * * * It is estimated that 10 pounds of tea frem the tea, the higher the percentage of extract.” the districts of Assam, Cachar, &c., equals 15 to 20 The following tables, compiled at the Industrial and pounds of the ordinary China tea (the bulkof consump­ Technological Museum by Messrs. Cosmo Newbery and tion) sold on the Australian market. The Darjeelings, F. Dunn, give the average results of a series of ana­ &c., grown at the higher elevation, are generally milder, lyses of Teas carefully drawn from the bulk :— and possess, as a rule, fine delicate bouquet and flavour." Per- Per- Per­ centage centage centage CEYLON PLANTERS IN SARAWAK. of of of Mr. Loyalty Peake, late of Maturata, writes from Season. Mineral Ex- Soluble Sarawak, under date 29th July, as follows:— Ash. tract. Salts. “ This is certainly agreat country for vegetation. I 1SS0-81... Auction sale Indian tea, am receiving every assistance from the Rajah in opening 15 sam ple, 770 hf.- up. The products most likely to prove suitable are chts., avgs. ... 5'34 39'42 316 cinchona, tea and cardamoms, none of which haVe been 1880-81...Auction sale Indian tea, tried. The chief products now are sago, gambier, 46 samples, =3,131 and pepper, also coal and cinnabar, the Borneo lif.-chts., avgs. ... 5-46 42-40 4'06 Company having the monopoly of the latter, A good 1881-82... Auction sale Indian tea, deal of gutta percha is exported and fetches very 36 samples, = 1,312 remunerative prices. I am getting 30,000 seeds to send bf.-chts., avgs. ... 5'54 43 91 327 to Ceylon where they should thrive. When I have been over more ground, I shall send you a long account 1880-81...Auction sale Foo- of the country. I have been here now over two Chow Congous, 15 months and have seen hardly any rain, though Sara­ samples, = 1,904 hf. - wak is supposed to be very wet. ” chts. avga. 5-20 29-26 2-1 1880-81... Auction sale Foo-Chow T e a o n t h e N i l g i p .is . —A planter of Coonoor Congous, 50 samples expects in the present season to manufacture 15,000 lbe. —- 2,880 hf. -chts. avgs. 5 40 31-30 3'60 of tea off forty acres of land. Average quality Pekoe 1881-82...Auction sale Foo-Chow Souchong, This is almost at the rate of 400 pounds Congus, 20 samples of made tea per acre, and must be reckoned an ex­ commcn, =6,230 hf.- cellent yield, especially when the class of tea turned chts., avgs. 5-32 33 60 3'26j out is considered. The estate of course is highly 1881-82...Auction sale Foo-Chow worked aud carefully supervised in all its depart­ Congous, 20 samples m ents.—Indian paper. medium, = 4,152 hf.- S a l t D e p o s it s . —A Mannar correspondent writes :— chts., avgs. 5-40 35-20 3-48 § “ A -short time since you referred, in your paper, to 1881-82... Auction sale Foo-Chow I H a report by Mr. Allen Hume recently published by Congous, 10 sam ples the Indian Government, on agriculture in India. Can good, = 1,757 hf.-chts. you kindly procure a copy of it for me ? It contained avgs. 5-44 35 04 3-54 some observations on a peculiar salt deposit in irri­ 1881-82....Auction sale Foo-Chow gated lands, you stated. I should much like to see Congous. 10 samples, what he says regarding it: there is nothing of the fine, = 957 hf.-chts., kind in this district, nor has it even been known here, avgs. 5-50 34-3-2 3-521 although all the soil is more or less strongly impregnated with salt., Ill fact, so much so, that the water of all Genuine tea of lowest wells is slightly brackish. It seems unlikely that the class continues .. 4 to 6 32 soil in the north of India contains more salt than this." THE ACTUAL COST OF MANUFACTURING these began to hatch in the middle of July, exactly TEA. six months after they had been laid. A few eggs of the second generation have already been obtained, (From th e Indian Tea Gazette.) j and it is confidently expected that there will be some Assuming that the garden to be reckoned for is in I for exportation in time for the next European silk these hills aud of average moderate size—say 200 season. In countries where silk is an established in- acres—yielding say 500 mds., and that the salary of , dustry, it is not necessary that every silk producer the Manager and his Assistant amount to R300 a should be a mulberry planter. The “ education," as m onth, i.e ., R l-8 per acre, I reckon the charges to be 1 it is called, of the silkworm and the cultivation of as follows for each lb. of tea :— ! the mulberry tree can be—as in France they often R. A. p . i are—separate employments conducted by different per­ ) ..0 1 6 sons ; but in this country it is, for the present, H (Wood—reckoned@ 4as.permd. (Govt, . necessary to have a plantation cf mulberry trees before 0 6 Charcoal R1 per md. rates) j° | the rearing of silkworms in sufficient quantity for 4) | commercial purposes can be successfully attempted, a year ...0 3 6 j Three species of mulberry have already been natural- 10 I ea m akers R84 | ized in Ceylon, namely, the common sort (M o m s 4 extra hands for 104—monthly, I Indica), the large-leafed Philippine Island variety (M. 0 0 6 sifting, cleaning, 1,248—a year I multicaulis), and the white mulberry (M . A lba). Books &c., R 20 ) : on the cidture of silk say that if the leaves of the Implements, &c., R300 per annum ! black, red, and white mulberry trees be given to silk- (A pice per pound) ...0 0 4 | worms all at once, they will eat the while first, then Boxes, L ead, &c. ...0 0 6 ! the red, and las'ly the black, but here they seem Sundries—Including ) to like the leaves of the M. Indica, Alba, and M ulti- Interest, Repairs, ! caulis all equally well. If there is any difference in R l,250per annum . .0 0 Medicine, Pony G the quality of the leaves of these three species, those allowance, of the white mulberry are the best, but this tree Transit charges ...0 0 G requires better soil than either of the other two, and other things being equal, it will not bear so ...0 7 I* large a crop of leaves as the multicaulis. T he com ­ To the above should be added what is, I mon sort is the best kind for fruit, but its habit of fear, very often overlooked in such culti­ bearing fruit abundantly is not a desirable quality vation, viz., the value of the fuel used by in a tree grown for the sake of the leaves. The best th e coolies for cooking purposes. For way to obtain large leaves of good quality is to prune 150 coolies I would reckon not less than the trees into short pollards, as the leaves borne on 15 mds. per diem, and at the Government suckers are larger and better than those borne on the price this would mean R3-12 per diem, old branches of high trees. This is the Japanese which would add another turn pice per method, as the Japanese do not approve of having lb to the cost of Tea 0 0 6 the trees of a greater height than suffices to keep the leaves from being splashed with mud by the rain. 0 8 1* They do not often make plantations of mulberry alone, but usually have the trees planted in hedges across There may be other items omitted in my calcula­ their corn field--, the mulberry being a tree that, tions, but if the above are very nearly correct, it unlike most others, does not injure plants growing will be evident that Darjeeling tea cannot be landed near it, either by abstracting nourishment or by the in Calcutta for less than 8 as. per 11) from a small \ shade or dropping of rain from its leaves. The mul- garden. It would be interesting to find out whether ! berry itself does not, however, grow luxuriantly in these charges could be very much more moderate on the shade of other trees, and leaves that have been large gardens.—Yours faithfully, P c n d e e m . : grown in the shade are not so much liked by silk- Darjeeling, 28th July 1881. worms as those that have been grown in sunshine — [We should say the rate is over estimated, but shall probably owing to a deficiency of saccharine matter be glad to hear the opinions of other Darjeeling in the former. In Europe, the mulberry is commonly planters on the subject. Our correspondent does not I grown as a large tree, a method which besides pro- seem to have taken into accouut the economy which j ducing leaves of inferior quality, renders the gather­ machinery should effect in manufacture.— E d . , I . T. ing of them more troublesome than when the trees Gazette, j | are pruned in the Japanese way. One advantage of j high trees, however, is that they do not require to be fen'ccd, as the leaves are beyond the reach of cattle ; SILK PRODUCTION. ! but the Japanese do not. keep many catlle, and con- It is curious that for all that is constantly being j sequently do not care for that advantage. sahl about “ new products" in the local press, there Though there is less noise made about silk than is hardly ever any mention of silk excel)t in our about several of the other “ new product-,” yet we paper. Yet there is no product for which this country believe the time will come when it will be a more is better adapted, none that requires a less outlay of important product than any of ihem, as it is adapt­ capital, and none that gives a more speedy return. able to a greater diversity of soil and climate than The silkworm eggs obtained from Japan by Father any of the others, and is an article for which the Palla did not turn out so well as was expected. The demand is practically unlimited. Silk production is silkworms from them were ns healthy as could be also a business that can be done by persons who can wished, but many of the eggs did not hatch, and neither do hard work themselves nor afford to pay only about seven ounces of Ceylon eggs were pro­ much in wages to others.—Ceylon C. Messenger. duced from each ounce of Japan ones. This is per­ haps nothing to grumble about, but it is hoped that VANILLA. a much better result will be obtained in the second generation. The Japan eggs reached this country in (From th e Monthly Magazine.) the beginning of last December, and they began to The genus vanilla, says Mr. G. W.FSeptimus Piesse, hatch immediately after their arrival. The first Cey­ is indigenous to Peiu, Brazil, and Mexico, and some lon eggs were laid about the middle of January, and of the species have been successfully cultivated in 70 the West In^ia Islands, Ceylon, Mauritius. From This should be prepared for two or three weeks the last-named, wonderful specimens were sent to our prior to putting up for sale. intercolonial exhibition of 1862, for which the jurors The odour of heliotrope resembles a mixture of vanilla awarded a gold medal. and almonds, and is well imitated thus :— The vanilla will produce saleable pods the third or EXTRACT OF HELIOTROPE. fourth year after propagation, and they may then he Spirituous extract of vanilla ...... ^ pint gathered annually in September in increasing quanti­ ,, ,, French rose po­ ties for thirty or even forty years. Two goo.l speci­ matum...... i ,, mens of the plant may be seen in the Orchid House Spirituous extract of orange flower... 2 ounces a t Kew. ,, ,, ambergris ... 1 ounce When the pods are gathered, which should be done Essential oil of almonds ...... 5 drops before they are quite ripe, it is most important that they be properly cured, otherwise they rapidly be­ come mouldy and lose their scent. Parcels in this USEFUL WRINKLES AND RECIPES condition may often be found in the Mincing Lane drug auctions. The curing of the pods is best effected FOR PLANTERS. by drying them in a moderate heat, pressing them (From th e Indian Tea Gazette, 6th August 1881.) with the thumb and finger from end to end, and {Continued from page 300.) then brushing them over with an oil that does not itself become rancid, such as that of cocoa or cashew Stables, To remove rank smell of.—Sawdust, wetted nut. It is at the apex of the pod that the mouldy with sulphuric acid, diluted with 40 parts of water, parasite first appears, the pods then quickly become and distributed about horse stables, will remove the soft and flabby, or dry7 and chippy. On the other disagreeable ammoniacal smell. hand, when vanilla pods are in good condition, they Horses, to keep flies from.—Make an infusion of become covered with an efflorescence of needle-like 3 handfuls of walnut leaves in 3 qts of cold water. crystals of vanillic acid ; the interior of the bean is Let this stand over night and boil for a quarter of then soft, unctuous, and balsamic. These crystals an hour in the morning. When cold rub it over the may be sublimed by beat of a sand bath. Few objects ears, neck and other irritable parts of the animal, are more beautiful than this when viewed by a mi­ with a moist sponge. croscope with the aid of polarised light. E ggs, To preserve.—Mix together in a tub or vessel I. F. H. Johnsfon states that the fruit of this plant 1 bushel of quicklime, 32 ozs. of salt, 8 ozs. cream when ripe is said to yield from two to six drops of of tartar, with as much water as will reduce com­ a liquid which has an exquisite odour, and bears the position to a sufficient consistence to float an egg. name of “ balsam of vanilla.” This balsam is, how­ It is said that this treatment will preserve the eggs ever, never seen in Europe, consequently it has perfectly sound for two years at least. never appeared commercially in the market. The Insect Bites.—A good remedy is borax, 1 oz. dissolved pods are dried in' the sun and afterwards slightly in 1 pint water previously boiled and allowed to cool. fermented for the purpose of developing their odour; Mustard Poultice, To make a.—In making a mustard when fresh, they are said to have no perfume. Physio­ plaster use no water, but mix the mustard with logically, the fragrance of the vanilla acts upon white of eggs, and the result will be a plaster the system as an aromatic stimulant, exhilarating the which will draw perfectly, but will not produce a mental functions, and increasing generally the energy blister, no matter how long it is allowed to remain. of the animal system. About two centuries ago vanilla Sleeplessness, Cure for.—Mr. Frank Buckland says : may be said to have been unknown in this country ; “ If I am much pressed with work, and feel I shall it is however stated, that Morgan, apothecary to not sleep, I eat two or three small onions and the Queen Elizabeth, showed Her Majesty a sample, but effect is magical. Onions are also excellent things to he knew nothing more about it than that “ it was eat when much exposed to intense cold. In salmon brought from abroad by some Spanish merchants.” fishing, common raw onions enable men to bear the A few years back the average importation of this ice and cold of the semi-frozen water much better article was about five or six hundredweight, which than spirits, beer, etc. If a person cannot sleep, it arrived, from some unknown cause, very irregularly, is because the blood is in his brain, not in bis and as a consequence caused great fluctuations in the stomach ; the remedy, therefore, is obvious : call the price. At the present time the total annual average blood down from the brain to the stomach. This is crop of all the varieties of vanilla from the several to be done by eating a biscuit, a hard-boiled egg, countries which produce it may be estimated at 80,000 a bit of bread and cheese, or something. Follow this lb., representing a value of not less than £150,000. up with a glass of wine or milk, or even water, and In order to obtain the perfume or essence, hall a you will fall asleep.” pound of the pods are slit from end to end, so as to Styptic paper, For stopping the bleeding of small lay open the interior ; then cut them up in lengths wounds.—Mix gum benzoin (best quality), 1 lb ; rock of about a quarter of an inch, and put into one gal­ alum, 1 lb.; water, 4£ gals. Boil in a tin vessel for lon of pure alcohol of GOO over proof, and macerated 4 hours, replacing the water lost by evaporation. with occasional agitation for about a month, at which Saturate paper with the solution, dry carefully and time all that is worth extracting will be found in brush over with a concentrated solution of pcrchloride the spirit, which may then be strained off quite clear of iron. Keep in a water-proof and air-tight case. and bright. It is then suitable as a flavoring agent, Toothache.—Saturate a bit of cotton wool in a or when blended with other scents it makes com­ strong solution -of ammonia, and apply it immediately pound odours or boquets. Those sold under the titles to the affected tooth. of clematis, heliotrope, wall-flovver, &c., mostly con­ M ucilage, Pocket.—Boil 1 lb. best white glue and tain about one-half of vanilla extract. strain very clear; boil also 4 oz?. isinglass, and mix The following gives a good the two together; place them in a water.bath (glue ESSENCE OF WALLFLOWER. kettle) with J lb. white sugar and evaporate till the Extract fleur d’orange ...... 1 pint liquid is quite thick, when it is to be poured into „ vanilla i ,, moulds, dried, and cut into pieces of convenient size. Esprit de rose 1 ,, This immediately dissolves in water, and fastens Extract of orris ...... ^ ,, paper very firmly. ,, cassic ...... | ,, Boots, Wet.—When the boots are taken off, fill Essential oil of almonds ...... 5 drops them quite full with dry oats. This grain has a great fondness for damp, aud will rapidly absorb which is larger, and of which, therefore, only a por­ the least vestige of it from the wet leather. As it tion is even covered by the scion. Wood already quickly aud completely takes up the moisture, it formed is incapable of further growth, and, there­ swells and fills the boot with a rightly fitting last, fore, cannot unite. The true union is effected at the keeping its form good, and drying the leather with­ point at which sap exudes from the stock, namely, out hardening it. In the morning, shake out the oats between the wood and the inner bark. The new layer and hang them in a bag near the fire to dry, ready of cellular matter would be there formed were the for the next wet night ; draw on the boots, and go tree lefc to grow as usual, and by the formation of happily and comfortably about the day’s work. the new layer the union of the stock and scion is M ildew, To remove.—Make a very iveak solution effected. From the foregoing it will be clearly un­ of chloride of lime in water (about a teaspoonful to derstood that the success of the operation of graft­ a quart of water), strain it carefully and dip the ing depends upon the accuracy of the joining. If the spot on the garment into it; and if the mildew does inner barks of scion and stock do not meet and fit not disappear immediately, lay it in the sun for a few closely, the circulation of the sap between the stock minutes, or dip it again into the lime water. The and the new head will not be maintained, in which, work is effectually and speedily done, and the chloride event the scion will die. This principle applies to of lime neither rots the cloth nor removes delicate every description of grafiiug—and there are many — colors, when sufficiently diluted and the articles rinsed the differences being such as are due chiefly to differ­ afterwards in clear water. ences in the sizes and ages of the stocks ; scions of Boots, Waterproofing. —Use a piece of paraffine candle last season's growth being used alike for all. The about the size of a nut, dissolved in lard oil at 140* kind of grafting most commonly used for small stocks Fabr. Apply once a month. is whip, splice, or tongue grafting. Figure 2 is an B ats, To catch.—Cover a common barrel with stiff illustration of a very common method of tongue-graft­ aper, tying the edge around the barrel, Place a ing, but we ehall first refer to figure 1, as affording oard so that the rats can have easy access to the an illivtration of a very perfect method of applying top. Sprinkle cheese or other bait on the paper, the principle. If in the young stem (figure 1) the and allow the rats to eat there unmolested for several edge of a sharp knife be entered at a, and with one days. Then place in the bottom of the barrel a straight, sloping cut brought out at h, and if the stone 6 or 7 inches high, aud pour iu water until parts be again joined exactly, ties at c and <1 w ill all the stone is covered, except for a space about hold them together, so that they would not be readily big enough for one rat to crawl upon. Now replace displaced. As the inner barks would exactly meet, the paper, first cutting a cross in the middle. the circulation of the sap would proceed as usual, and The tirst rat that climbs on the barrel-top goes a union would be effected in due course. This, then, through into the water, and climbs on the stone. would afford a most perfect example of grafting—like The paper comes back to its original position and parts being everywhere joined to like. But as it is the second rat follows the first. Then begins a fight rarely po sible to employ scions of the same sizes as for the possession of the dry place on the stone, the stocks, except in the case of yearling stocks, the noise of which attracts the others, who share the the process of grafting has to be varied—still, however, sam e fate. keeping the principle in view of placing in close Leather, to water proof.—Saturate with castor oil. contact a sufficient portion of the inner harks of both This is excellent for winter boots. stock and scion to maintain the circulation of the Mice, To kill,—Sprinkle some grain near the holes, sap. Where the stock and scion do not differ very and throw near by a few bits of cotton saturated in greatly in size, as in the case < f figure 2—which chloroform. This has been tested, and mice have illustrates wliip-grafting, the whole of the inner barks been found dead, two or three at a time, lving with can be brought into contact—a is the sciou, b is their noses near the cotton. the stock. Mr. Robe t Thompson, whose illustra­ tions we have produced, thus describes this example :— “ In each a cut surface is exhibited, showing the GRAFTING DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES. wood a a. The points at the extremities of the dotted lin«, a and a, touch the inner barks of both stock (From th e Australasian.) aud scion, whilst the points at b touch the outer Although we published as lately as last year direc­ barks. It will be readily observed that the bark of tions for performing the operation of grafting, we the stock, because older, is thicker than that of the are again under the necessity of repeating, in effect, scion; consequently if, as ought to be the case, equal the information then given, in order to comply with surfaces of wood are exposed, the cut surface of the the request of several of our readers. The term graft­ scion would not completely cover that of the stock, ing, as interpreted by British gardeners, has a more nor would this ever be the case except when the restricted application than is accorded to it by the barks of both stock and scion are of equal thickness. French. In England the term grafting is applied only In proceeding to operate cut the top of the stock in to the practice of affixing to a tree, called the stock, a sloping direction from c to w ard s d, terminating, if a portion of a branch of another tree, which portion possible, above a bud, developed or latent, as at d. is called the scion. English gardeners divide the Then take the scion and cut it sloping from above c, opera’ion of grafting into three species, viz, grafting, and thin towards the end at / ; next enter the knife budding, and inarching. On the continent of Europe a t h, and cut a thin tongue upwards to c. The scion no such distinction is observed ; in France all of these is now prepared. Then, proceeding to the stock, operations are represented by the general term grajfe, enter the knife at g, and cut a slice upwards to c, hence, graffe par gemmes—grafting by buds, which so that the surface of the wood shall be, as nearly we call budding. as possible, a counterpart of the exposed surface of We are about to speak of grafting in its limited the wood of the scion. If this should happen to be English application. The scion, then, is a cutting of the case by a single cut, so much the better, but if a tree or plant on which the scion is to be engrafted. not, it should rather be too narrow than too wide, G rafting, therefore, is the operation of placing and for in that case a shaving can be taken off till the affixing together two cut portions of plants or trees cut face a of the stock equals tint of the scion. in such position as to permit of their becoming per- Enter the knife very little below c, and cut a notch manently united. It is important to ‘understand that to receive the tongue of the scion ; thn notch should the union does not extend over the whole cut sur­ be kept op ’n with the ooint of the knife whilst the face of the scion, much less over that of the stock, tongue of the scion is being inserted; the inner bark, indicated by the points at the ends of the dotted W hat becomes of the stalks ? By steaming aud treating lines a a of the scion and stock, should be placed them with alkaline washes, or by some other of the in contact, the parts secured by tying with matting many patented processes for disengaging the fibre or other material, and surrounded with clay, grafting from the gum and the bark, will it not be possible wax, or other substances, to exclude the air and wet. to convert that mass of refuse material into paper “ Saddle-grafting.—This is represented by figure 3. pulp, if not into fibre fit to be spun ?—has it ever It cannot be well performed except when the stock beeu proposed or tried ? I could say the same of and scion are of nearly equal thickness. The stock the twigs of the silk Mulberry, the bark of which is A is cut sloping on both sides like a wedge termin­ one of the various materials used in making the tough ating at c. The scion B is split up the centre, and paper of Japan, though legs generally than that of the each half is thinned to make it fit astride the wedge- paper Mulberry (Broussonetia) or the Edgeworthia l ke end of the stock. A thin, narrow-bladed knife papyrifera. Any quantity of Mulberry twigs could should be employed for this purpose. The inner bark be had in the south of France and Lombardy, where of the scion aud stock h iving been made to coincide those cuttings are used only as household fuel. Suitable as nearly as possible, the parts should be secured by spots with an abundance of good water could be a ligature and covered with some grafting composition. found in those countries for establishing the works. “ This mode of grafting is liable to some objec­ — F . V a n V o l x e m .— Gardeners’ Chronicle. tions. Unless the scion is cut out without splitting, Tobaccos.—Should the report that the Spanish Go­ there must be a rent, as from c to il, which will vernment is about to discontinue the- tobacco mono­ never unite, and is even liable to open and form a poly in the Philippiue Islands prove true, one of the blemish. The operation requires more time to perform closest and most strictly enforced monopolies that ever than whip-grafting, and, as already observed, it can­ existed will be put an end to. The production of not be well employed unless the stock is nearly of the Manilla cheroot was fenced about with protective the same size as the scion, for, supposing the s'ock regulations even from before the moment that the to be J in. in diameter, and the scion only J in., the tobacco seed was put into the ground almost until inner bark might be joined at the lower part, but that at which it was placed between the lips of the could not possibly be so at the thinned edge at the smoker. Some land in ihe Island of Liifon being top of the stock ; On the contrary, 4 in. of the wood belter suited to the cultivation of the plant than others, must be there uncovered by the scion.” all owners and occupiers of property in certain dis­ In our next the practice of cleft, notch, anti crown tricts had to see that a proportion of their land un­ grafting will be described. der cultivation—the amount being regulated by the Government—was devoted to growing tobacco. The Cinchona in West Africa. —Under the auspices kind of seed sown and the mode of rearing the plants of the Irvings tone Expedition, the cultivation of the were closely supervised by the authorities. The pro­ various species of cinchona is to be tried in the moun­ duct of the harvest could be purchased only by the tain valleys of the Congo. Government ; and no one else could manufacture it T e a Ferm entation. —A simple and practical way to into cigars or cheroots. No unmanufactured to acco m ake all your leaf ferment evenly,is to sift it with a half could be sold even for exportation, unless it were to inch (mers) sieve immediately after the final rolling, be carried beyond the Cape of Good Hope—a regula­ and it will be found that about 4 per cent, of ordin­ tion made to prevent the starting of a rival manu­ arily rolled leaf will have fallen through; put this facture at Macao or Hong Kong. The factories into your fermenting trays, but in a separate line to of Manilla and Cavite are immense establishments. the coarer leaf, which has not gone through the sieve, Every visitor to the former city must have been and when ready for opening out (which will vary struck by the crowds of “ hands”—chiefly Tagal wo­ from a quarter to thre=-quarters of an hour before the men and girls—which stream out of their gates at the other) keep and dry it separate, as it will also take close of the working hours. Their interest in the less time to dry than the harder ; one man can easily proposed change must be considerable. The system sift 12 m ds. per hour, i. e., by having the sieve pursued in Cub i has long been altogether different. suspended from some support to enable him to use I’he vega* or tobacco farms of the celebrated Vuelta it somewhat after the motion or action of -Jackson’s Abajo—the region in which the finest tobaccos are sifting machine, which is by the way something like grown—are usually small holdings cultivated chiefly, his dryer.— I. /'. Gazett". if not entirely, by white men. Slave labour in Cuba Tea Pruning, its connection w ith Red Spider. —I lias had little to do with the production of at least have noted that the bushes pruned in December and Janu­ the raw material of the celebrated Havana cigars, ary, became dry in the outer bark from long expo lire but was principally employed on the great sugar es­ to the sun, and were soon affected with spider; those tates. The cultivation of the plant, free as it is, is not runed in February and March, before the bushes more so than the manufacture of the cigars and cigar­ egan to put out new shoots, escaped spider; while E ettes. Though the huge factories of Manilla are not those pruned after the new shoots sprung, were to be found at Havana, a remarkable change in the cover ed with spider. On blocks of tea at different ends system of cigar making has taken place within the of the gtrden, the early pruned parts were brown, last five-and twenty years. At the beginning of that the later pruned parts green, and only half the bushes period the small factories were many in number ; some in a few of the intervening rows were touched with streets—notably the Calle del Sol and the Calle Obispo spider. Red spider wastes about an eighth of the — were lined with little shops, ill which might be crop, and reduces the quality of the tea for the seen some half-a dozen white creoles vigorously smoking se.as.in. Trusting these remarks may elicit some further and rolling cigars. Some years later these had nearly practical information on the subject.—/. T, Gazette. all disappeared, and the manufacture hid apparently Paper. M aterials.— From time to time appear in passed into the hands of large firms, with manufact­ the periodicals notices of some new material like uring establishments of considerable size. The great Banana fibre, Bamboo shoots, Blue-graes, and the cigarette works of La Honradez were one of the sights like, which have all in common the same grave defect of the city. Though perhaps not even those whose —the necessity of special cultivation, and therefore Eastern experiences tend to preserve pleasant recol­ I have never seen -anything to come oitfc of them ex­ lections of the Manilla plant will dispute the superi­ cept hobbies for benevolent and sanguine persons to ority of an Havana, it is worth remembering that trot out. But from the trade returns of India it the former was, and indeed is, by a long way the ■appears that Flax must be grown extensively in the north-west, and that the Linseed alone is saved. cheaper.—Pall Mall Budget. THE LABOUR DIFFICULTY IN FIJI. even the contemptible merit of financial success to recoin mend it. It. is slavery, with the disgraceful ad­ (From th e Fiji Timrs) July 6th.) junct that it perseveres in the miserable affectation In again reverting to the reply of his Excellencyto of an attempt to disguise its real character under the, the deputation that recently -waited upon him with hypocritical garb of philanthropy. Can the Fijian reference to the insufficiency of the labor supply for subject of the British Crown, existing under its op­ 1881, we propose to draw attention to its general eration, say, “I am a Free Man.” His Excellency bearing upon the native question. The proposition of has answered “No.” Then the. p rpetuation of the the lion. Edward Langton was to the effect that in system is a disgrace to the Government that has in­ view of the serious* losses certain to be entailed on augurated it and a scandal to the flag under the shadovfr planters through a want of hands, and considering of which it is maintained the extent to which the progress of the colony would be thereby retarded, his Excellency should intimate INDIAN GOLD MINING. to the chiefs that the Government opposition to their young men engaging as agricultural laborers was tem­ A “ Practical Miner” writes to the Mining Journal: — porarily withdrawn. The reply was as decisive as I have read in your valuable Journal of July 9th, a the reasons advanced in support of it were weak and communicated article on the Indian gold mines, written, untenable. “His Excellency was opposed to the in­ I suppose, by some mining engineer who has had the denture of Fijians for a long period, at a distance necessary training aud education to understand gold from their homes, and while he was willing to desrote mining at a glance. First, he says the character of the quartz in the bis time and energy to assist the planters in other ways, he could hold out no hope whatever in this di­ mines of Wynaad and Mysore has a waxey or milky rection.” It will be noticed that the use of the words appearance, and it is entirely free from any ferruginous matrix—pyrites of iron. Now, Sir, I have worked in “long period” is almost Gordonim in its diplomatic finesse. To the Fijian public it. of course conveys no the most productive mines of both California and Nevada, My experience teaches me, if you wish t<* other meaning than that of twelve months, the longest period permissible under Ordinance, but to readers find good profitable gold mines you must find at a distance it is charmingly indefinite, and may your lodes and reefs well charged with iron pyrites. mean any interval supervening between boyhood and In fact, all profitable gold mines on the Pacific Coast are found on large north and south ferruginous* old age. In arriving at the above conclusion, Mr. veins in slate, gneiss, greenstone, quartzifc', etc. I Des Vceux was dealing with a matter seriously affecting two distinct but not diverse interests. If never saw a profitable gold mine on the Pacific Coast or elsewhere in the ‘pure compact quartz 6*0 feet from these interests are inimical ; if .an assent to the sug­ gestion made on behalf of the planters could in its surface. I have seen gold mines in California—the- operation exercise an injurious effect upon either the Sutler Creek Mine which was profitably worked near moral, social, or general well-being' of the Fijian, 200 fathoms from surface, but the gold was associated then, the decision is most undoubtedly the correct with iron pyrites and a small percentage of galena. The one, even though the progress of the colony should celebrated gold mines of Nevada , California-- suffer in consequence. If, however, instead of being the Rocky bar Eureka, Allison’s Ranch ; French Lead, and Idaho Mines—which have been the best paying inimical, these interests are identical; if the benefit conferred upon the planter by a consent to this pro­ s mines of California—were found in ferruginous lodes, position would be equally shared in by the Fijian, some of them worked to a depth of 170 fathoms. I while at the same time the progress of the colony have seen in the pure compact quartz veins good would be thereby materially advanced, the official deposits of gold near the surface, but never a mine that was worked profitably 50 feet from surface. At Sonora veto can hut be regarded as a most lamentable error in judgment. His Excellency affirms a belief in the in Tuolumne County, I have known the clean quartz firat position,, and therefore claims to be right in his j veins productive, 20 and even 30 feet from surface refusal; we as confidently assert the correctness of j My practical experience in gold mining tvlls me you the second, and consequently impeach both the justice I may as well expect to find a profitable copper mine and good policy of the course adopted. The hon. without sulphur as a profitable auriferous mine without E. Langton represented no less than £100,000 of iron pyrites. Australian gold mines have precisely imported capital invested in the colony by the Mango j the same characteristics, also the gold mines of Nova- Island Plantation Company on the strength of this Scotia, Brazils. The late Capt. Tims. Tn-Ioar, of the- implied promise, and, failing the supply of Polyne­ Don Pedro Mines, says the rich portions of the lodes sians, he simply asked that those Fijians who were are found more auriferous in the ferruginous matrix willing, might be permitted to work for wages, thereby than elsewhere. benefiting themselves, the planters, and the colony Secondly, your correspondent says in the Kolar district at large. Had the request been made of Sir Arthur the ground is not broken up or disturbed by, I sup­ Gordon, he would have given an ovcrpoweringly j pose, cross-cour-es or intersection of any other strata, but simply the reefs are confined between two well- gracious consent to it, if only to add a specious color : to his own previous assertions, and the same even- \ defined walls of exceedingly hard gneiss, almost like a ing would have despatched a message to the chiefs, fine grained granite. Now, any practical gold miner directly prohibiting any laborer leaving his province. would consider this an unfavourable omen for the pro­ Mr. Des Vceux has preferred to deal honestly with duction of gold. I have always found the veins most the planters ; he has utterly discarded the transparent productive for gold near these interruptions, cross- fic ion of free agency hitherto so persistently employed courses. heaves and dislocations ; they are the great and has the.courage to state the naked but unpalat­ iriigators of all metaliif-rous veins and rocks ; without able truth ; that the^ Fijian British subject is not n these disturbances the veins are seldom productive for free man; that his labor is n>*t his own to dispose any distance. All intelligent gold miners know front of; and that he shall not earn his living in his own experience that the quality of the veins in California is way by working for the planters, however much lr.s dependent on the mysterious cffec’s of the junction of inclination or interest may prompt him to that course. rocks of different composition.— M . M ail. The system by which the entire labor of the Fijian is monopolised by the Government for revenue raising , CASTOR OIL GAS-WORKS AT JEYPORE, purposes is inherently vicious in principle and most A hint for Ceylon where the castor oil plants grow disastrously ruinous in practice, both to the morale ; freely can surely be taken from the following :— and physique of the native, besides which it has not A report by Major S. S. Jacob, on the Jeyporc Oil 80 Gas-works, an establishment founded liy the late Government on the value thus shown of the planta­ Maharajah of Jeypore, is quoted in the Journal, o f Gas tions, the average yield of the best alkaloids being Lighting. From the memorandum on the working of second only to that of the most useful sort of the establishment prepared by the present manager cinchona (the Ledgeriana) in the island of Java, {t (Mr. S. J. Tellery), whose administration is highly is, therefore, he says, of great importance that the ■ commenced by Major Jacob, it appears that the gas trees, whose superior quality is thus ascertained, is principally produced from castor oil, with the ad- should be reserved for seed. “ The first object men­ • dition, when the castor seed is not available, of poppy, tioned by Mr. Cross in obtaining these specimens is til, or rape seed. According to Mr. Tellery’s own to test ‘ the relative excellence of each species in the records, he produces from one maund of castor oil production of quinine. ’ It is, therefore, unfortun­ (82 lb) about 750 cubic feet of 20J-candle gas ; or ate that he includes more than two-thirds of 1,000 cubic feet of 18^ candle gas ; or 1.250 cubic his samples under the head of ‘ Crown Condaminea.’ feet of 9 candle gas. With other oils the same quan­ 1 conclude that he saw no difference "of species tity of material worked to make gas of equal quan­ amongst these, and if so, I must conclude from pre­ tities "ill produce 610 cubic feet, 762 cubic feet, aud vious knowledge that the whole must belong to the 914 cubic feet of the respective grades of illuminat­ tru e ‘ Cinchona officinalis,’ as defined by Sir Joseph D. ing power. According to these results, taking the Hooker in the Uritusinga form. This latter" was the current prices of oils delivered into the . works— name conferred by the first Spanish Botanists employed castor oil being R ll 12a (22s 4d), and the other oils in the study of its characteristic and retained by R10 ( 19s lOd) per m aund —the castor oil gas is 110 10a Mr. Mclvor and myself. I have reason to plead for 4p (Is 3d) per 1,000 cubic feet cheaper than other oil the retention of the original name, as a large portion gas. The works was double in all respects, duplicate sets of the trees of the above plantation are the descendants of retorts, purifiers, &c., and gasholders being erected, of one raised from seed sent me ‘from the mountain for which arrangement no reason is given. At pre­ of Uritusinga’ in the year 1859, which I gave to the sent two horizontal retorts are used, which are kept Indian Government. Mr, Mclvor wrote me in 1875 at work during about 218 hours per month, and pro­ as follows:—* The extent planted with C. Uritusinga, duce something like 98,720 feet of gas in this time, the plant you sent out by Mr. Lyall, is over 70 acres Worked in this way, the cost of manufacture (ex­ and originally 65,000 plants were planted, but of clusive of the cost of oil) is as follows :— course the failures thereof should be deducted, and Wear and tear ...... 1 3 2j this will leave in round numbers, 60,000 plants, the F uel ...... 2 11 7 progeny of the one you gave to the Indian Government, Labour ...... : ... 0 5 3J Mr. Mclvor sent me samples from the branches of Purification ...... 0 0 4J these trees, from which I obtained an extraordinary result in quinine. This is now confirmed by these R . a. p. samples of trunk bark obtained by Mr. Cross, and the Total cost per 1,000 cubic feet =R4 4 4j, or 8s 6d. examination proves that the Uritusinga is as much This high charge for manufacturing expenses is said to superior to the more commonly cultivated varieties of be due to the fact of so little gas being required ; C. officinalis as the Ledgeriana is to the common C. if the consumption should increase to about 260,000 C alisaya. It is to be regretted that more atten­ cubic feet per month, which could be supplied with­ tion has not been paid to the selection of the best out increased cost fur establishment charges, the work­ seed. I have frequently pointed out the superior ing expenses per 1 000 cubic feet would be reduced quality of the importations from the Doddabetta to R2 9a 5Jp (os Id). Another peculiarity of the Plantation especially, from which a quantity that Jeypore undertaking is the necessity that exists for seems disproportionate and exhaustive has been the manager to unite the attributes of a farmer to sent home in recent years. I am glad to speak in his other acquirements, for the purpose of securing almost equally favorable terms of the Pitayo bark, a constant and cheap supply of raw material for gas- No. 15. I have before urged special attention to the making. List year Mr. Tellery personally super­ cultivation of this species, because it is the quinidine- intended the sowing of 300 acres with the castor plant produciug sort, thus yielding, in addition to a fair ( Ricinus vu'garis and the establishment includes a quantity of quinine another valuable medicine, which hydraulic oil-prersing apparatus. The process of ex­ tells easily at more than half the price of quinine, tracting the oil for carbonising is as follows :—First, and can, no doubt, be passed off as suck by those the castor seed is passed through the crusher, when who regard more the cheapness than the exact chemical the shells only are broken off. The shells are then composition of their medicines ; but, if sold as quini- picked out by hand, and the seed is again introduced dine, it is of service to the community, and involves into the crusher, where it is ground to a paste. It no breach of commercial morality. The value of this is then passed into the heating pan, and, after be­ specimen of bark would be at this moment 9s per lb.” ing well heated it is packed into horsehair bags and Mr. Howard forwards the following analyses of the filled up hot into the prers immediately. After about samples referred to, which were made by his nephew, 20 mir.utes pressing, the exuding oil being meanwhile Mr. David Howard, f . c. s. :— collected, the cake is removed and ground over again. C r o w n C o n d a m in e a . It is subsequently heated and pressed a second time, Original Bark taken from stump of a cut down tree until about 33 or 40 per cent of oil is obtained from the seed. The labour of preparing and pressing the planted in 1863, which was found over-grown with castor seed corts R1 la 8p (2s) per maund of oil. The grass in an old fence of the Government Garden Ooty. cost of extracting other seed oil is about the same, with Cincho- Cincho- Quini- Amorphous the exception of the cost of removing the shel's. For Quinine. nidine. nine. dine. Alkaloid. generating gas, the oil is used as it comes from the pres*. % % % % % 4"58 0-39 * 1 08 0"U7 0"49 ANALYSES OF NF.ILGHERRY CINCHONA Original Bark taken from the root of. the stump BARK. from which bark No. 1 was collected. Mr. J. E. Howard, f . r . s ., has reported for the 4-60 0"76 1"39 2-20 0 91 information of the Secretary of State and of the Go­ vernment of Madras, on 30 samples of cinchona bark From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original sent home from the Government Nilgiri plantations Bark taken from tree of very robust healthy aspect, by Mr. Robert Cross, who collected them in Novem­ growing in bottom of ravine, planted in 1869. ber and December last. He congratulates the local 2 01 0"3o 4 04 1"65 132 From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original 0 91 1*43 3 84 0 00 1*14 Bark taken from a tree growing in rocky debris, From Government Plantations, Nadavatam. Original planted in 1869. Bark from a tree planted in 1871. 6 52 0-23 2 09 1 39 101 4*54 0*31 0*70 — 0*82 From Government Plantations, Dodabetta, Ori­ From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Renewed ginal Bark from tree growing on the brink of the Bark, three years old, under moss, planted 1862. ravine, planted 1869. 3*08 1*63 1 14 0*05 1*48 3 '83 0-25 2-54 1*29 1*58 From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Renewed From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Ori­ Bark, three years, under moss, planted 1862. ginal Bark taken from an unwrought tree, planted 2*04 1*20 1*78 0*20 0*65 1869. P it a y o B a r k . 4'63 .0 60 2 21 1*19 1 1 4 From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Ori­ From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original ginal Bark from base of tree which had been several I imes Bark from saplings which were planted near the close of wrought by the renewing process, planted 1863. the year 1871. 5 16 0*40 1'72 1-56 0*76 3*98 Trace. 1*67 2*01 1*17 From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original C a l is a y a B a r k . Bark taken from base of a tree which had been wrought by the renewing process, planted 1S63. From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Original 3*49 1*22 2*18 1*25 1 12 Bark from a shrub-like tree. Date of planting un­ From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Ori­ certain. ginal Bark taken from a young sapling four or five 4*98 0*58 0*83 0*16 0*50 years old. Mr. David Howard says with reference to these 4 04 0.30 0*85 0*35 1*15 analyses :—“ The samples have the appearance of being From Government Plantation. Renewed Bark three taken from the lower part of the stem of the tree ; years old, under moss, planted 1863. if this is the case, our experience would show that 4 79 0*24 0-44 0*48 0 86 the average bark of the whole tree would give a lower From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Renewed test; the small and young bark from branches of Bark, three years old, under moss, planted in 1863. crown bark in the last sale of Dodabetta bark yielded 7*69 0 09 0 14 0 16 0*64 less than 1 per cent, of quinine. The same cause From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Re­ may explain in measure the high percentage of quini- newed Bark, three years old, under moss, planted in dine in many of the samples; this alkaloid appears 1863. to increase in a marked degree in the bark near the 6*60 0 14 0*20 0 ‘22 1*00 root. Sample No. 15 is the very finest quality of From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Renewed Pitayo bark. This sort of bark sells freely at prices Bark, three years old, under moss, planted in 1863. exceeding those given for good South American cali­ 4*01 0 05 0 40 0*76 1*05 saya. Sample No. 21, though marked ‘ Red Bark,’ From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Renewed both in appearance and test resembles fine crown bark. Bark, three yeas old, under moss, planted in 1 63. Sample No. 25 appears from the analysis to be true 4*69 0*05 0*42 ' 0*38 0*97 Ledgeriana, the small percentage of cinchonidine which From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original it gives is generally found in that variety both from Bark from a tree planted in 1879. The original outer Java and from South America. To compare the above surface was pared off. analyses with those in which quinine is returned as 5*31 1*56 1*02 0*27 1*49 sulphate one-third must be added to the percentage : From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original thus 6 per cent of quinine is equal to 8 per cent, of Bark from a tree of stunted aspect, planted 1863. sulphate of quinine.”—Madras Mail. 5*08 1*88 1*02 0*58 0*59 From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Original Bark from a tree planted in 1863. CEYLON-LIBERIAN COFFEE SEED IN FIJI : 2*63 T race. 3*05 1*92 1*82 AND A FINE SAMPLE OF FIJI Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original Bark from tree planted in 1865 which had been wrought. COFFEA ARABICA, 4*43 1*35 2*15 1*20 0*95 Messrs. Leechman & Co., Colombo, have received From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Original the following letter from Mr. A. R. Wilson of Forest Bark from a tree planted 1865 which had not been Creek estate, Taviuni, Fiji, dated 2nd July :— w rought. “ I duly received your favour of the 15th of March, 4*78 0*82 2*38 1*12 1*15 as also the therein mentioned registered packet con­ From Government Plantations, Dodabetta. Tree taining 10 cherries and 150 seeds of Liberian coffee. planted iu 1863 Growing on a high bank from which I delayed an answer until 1 should see how the the earth had fallen away. seeds turned out. According to your suggestion, I cut 2*62 1*55 2*98 1*22 1*20 the ends off one or two of the seeds. The embryo From larger roots. in the seeds had begun to germinate and throw out 2*3*2 Trace. 3*75 3*10 2*12 radicles through the moisture and air in the box in Lesser roots. which they were enclosed. I planted the beaus on 1*41 0*38 2 80 3*45 1*45 several differ- nt spots on the estate, and at various R e d B a r k . altitudes, on the principle that From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Original ‘ The mouse that trusts to one poor hole Bark from a tree planted in 1862 This is the “ Fata Can never be a mouse of any soul.’ de Gallinazo ” South American variety. “ In each spot some of the seeds have thrown out 2 27 3*21 3*17 0 00 0*93 their radicles and stems and appear thriving. The From Government Plantations, Naduvatam. Original Liberian coffee in cherry arrived in like good con­ Bark from the largest and best developed tree that dition, the saccharine matter having remained moist could be found in the Plantations, planted 1862. and sweet. I think the average size of the Liberian 0 86 2*08 3 66 0*00 1*06 coffee beans in parchment is no larger than the From the Gove’nment Plantations, Naduvatam. Ori­ average size of the parchment beans of the coffea ginal Bark from one of the largest trees met with, Arabics, grown on this estate. I notice in a little planted in 1862. pamphlet by John Walker & Co., entitled a ‘ Hand. book’ under the heading ‘Sieves,’ the following gone into the pockets of the promoters. The share specification : 1 The bottom is of perforated metal with capital seems to be £34,000, and the debenture capital round holes from gths to J.’ ‘As a rule, the holes to be £6,340. Against this, the patent rights are should be so small as to hinder the smallest cherry set down for £2,400, royalty compounded £30,000, from parsing through, but wide enough to admit the and preliminary expenses £2,926, thus leaving a balance largest parchment bean.’ A ‘sieve’ with holes of of £5,014 for the Company. The payment of £32,400 such dimensions would hardly admit any bean grown tor the right to grind date stones, the sale of this on this estate. I enclose half-a-dozen parchment beans right to a German Company for £50,000, and chosen indiscriminately, from an inspection of which the fact that the £5 shares of the Date Company you will notice that their average dimensions are were actually quoted at 45, are the most singular about from 1 an inch to §ths of an inch in length, and instances of the success of unblushing impudence that from §ths of an inch to 1 an inch in breadth. The have occurred during the present rage for Company- Ordinance prohibiting the importation into the Colony mongering.” of seeds and plants has been repealed. I should take it kindly if yon would submit this letter to the editor of th e Ceylon Observer, in case he should like to pub­ lish i t . ” C h e a p Gum for Labels. —Extract from the Scientific The sample of Fiji parchment sent is certainly a A m e ric a n '.—Postage Stamp Mucilage. Gum dextrine very good one, equal to our very largest Ceylon 2 parts; water, 5 parts; acetic acid, 1 part; dissolve beans of Coffea Arabica. by aid of heat, and add 1 part of spirits of wine.— I. T. Gazette. SOUTH AFRICA. A griculture for Educated Ceylonese. —E n joying I n P a r a g u a y the preparing of Indigo from the the pleasures of a country life just now, and taking an Eupotorium tinctorium is a large industry. The plant active interest in the working of this place, I wish would grow in Natal.—P. E. Advertiser. more of my countrymen would, take to agriculture. T here a re obstacles arising from want of capital, . There is an Orangery in this division which is expected to yield 250,000 oranges this season ; 50,000 but unfortunately those who have the means seem have already been sold with a pecuniary result to prefer a town life and Government employ­ which beats sheep and ostrich farming hollow .— E ast ment to independence, and an active healthful life. London Despatch. Y our Tropical Agriculturist is a most useful publica­ O strich Farm ing. — The Cope A rgus gives a wail for tion, and is simply invaluable to those who would the" decrease of the ostrich industry in the Colony. keep abreast of the times in matters agricultural at a It says : That ostrich farming in this colony has seen minimum of cost.— Cor. the best of its days is pretty generally understood, Cattle-breeding at the Saidapet Farm. —T he ex ­ South America will soon be competing with us, and periments now bring carried on at the Saidape* Farm,. in Australia the industry is already established. We Madras, with cattle breeding with stock imported from learn from the Colonies and India that on an ostrich Aden, seem to be succeeding. The satisfactory results farm on the River Murray (New South Wales) there that have attended the importation of Aden cattle are fifty-six birds, which, with two or three excep­ into Madras have induced the Board of Revenue to tions, are in excellent health, and in a thriving con­ sanction a fur:her outlay of Rl,200 for the purchase d itio n .—Natal Mercury. of fresh stock for the Saidapet Farm. The bulls that are now to be ordered “ should,” the Superintendent of Government Farms says, “ not be over five years THE DATE COFFEE COMPANY. of age, should be docile, and of a good shape; the A correspondent writes:—“ I cannot think why you cows should be young and by preference, rearing their have not given the benefit of the analysis in T ruth of th e fir s t calves ; and that they should undoubtedly be good affairs ot the D ate Coffee' Company. You will find it in milkers aud docile ; the whole of the stock to be iu the paper for 14th July. If true, the superlatively happy perfect health.”—Pioneer. State of affairs made out by the chairman at the yearly Liberian Coffee. —Friend Edward S. Morris, mer­ meeting is a delusion and a snare, to enable the wire­ chant, Philadelphia, whose advertisment appears pullers to carry on their little game a little longer.” in our columns with satisfactory English references, We thank our correspondent for the hint. The ex­ is very anxious to become the agent for Ceylon tr a c t is as follow s :— Liberian Coffee in America. We believe he has ex­ “ This remarkable Company has issued its report. ceptionally good opportunities for disposing of such According to its balance-sheet the assets consist of debts produce. He writes to us as follows ;— to the a count of £20,201, machinery-and plant which has cost £3,789, and about £4,500 iu cash. Who the Established 1855. Appointed Commissioner for Liberia to the LT. S. Centennial Exposition, 1876. J . J . Roberts, debtors are that owe it £20,201 is not stated. It has President. ‘sold’ date coffee for £2,111, and its current ex­ Philadelphia, July 7th, 1881. Edward S. Morris, No. 6, penses have been £5,433. Some of the items are curious. South Merrick S t, opposite Now City Hall. Thus, advertising figures for £1,605, printing and Mr. J . Ferguson, Colombo, Ceylon. stationery for £215, law charges for £497, and directors’ D e a r S i r ,—Many thanks, my kind friend, for the copy remuneration for £500—that is to say, these four items . of “ Liberian coffee, its hist ry and its cultivation.” I value alone considerably exceed the gross returns on sales. | of very much, as it so substantially confirms all my claims The directors, however, ‘ are sanguine that when the j for this coffee as made - by me in 1802-3, to the people make amounts to forty tons per-week: the original \ ot Liberia. It is a pleasure always, to feel we have not made a estimate of their engineer will be realized, and the I mistake in onr calling. As I cannot get enough Liberia Company earn 100 per cent on" its capital.’ When ' coffee properly cultivated and cleaned to supply my nice | and very particular Centennial customers, I am more this does occur I will engage to drink date coffee : than willing to introduce Liberia Ceylon ; and I know it for my breakfast. I do not think that I can in more will take wi h them. Indeed, I shall leave nothing utidono precise terms express my utter disbelief in the prob­ ■ to identity myself with Liberia Ceylon, as I have with ability of the Company ever earning 100 per cent, Liberia, the only coffee I ever sold. I have customers by inducing the public to adopt a beverage composed throughout the U. S., and I know how To reach them, of an infusion of ground date stones, and to play at 1 — Yours truly, E d w a r d S. M o r r i s . believing that it is coffee.. So far as I can make out We would recommend consignments to be made to the balance-sheet, almost all the capital has already Mr. Morris.