778 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[May I, 18S4. 



ally ask, AVhat is this? "Without this there could be no 

 gardeu. Through this aud a lower masom-y tauk passes 

 the water for the whole gardeu. Two engines and two 

 pumps works twelve hours every day all through the dry 

 weather (that is, for eight months of the year), each throw- 

 ing over 6,000 gallons per hour. The tanks are connected 

 with the uadergrouud system of piping, which supplies the 

 whole garden, and there is no part more than 300 feet 

 from a standpipe. The water is distributed over the gi'ound 

 by means of canvas hose from these standpipes. The 

 greater portion of all this has been done under the pre- 

 sent Superintendent's directions. Some four years ago a 

 few carriage drives and a few footpaths were all that could 

 be seen of this now splendid garden. The present in- 

 cumbent, J. M. Henry, is one of our northern gardeners 

 who, after being through many of our good gardens at 

 home, was sent out as a young man from Kew to the 

 IMadras Agri- Horticultural Society. After serving his con- 

 tract time with the above Society he travelled a great part 

 of India, and finally settled do^vu under the enlighteued 

 and good government of one of India's most promising 

 yoimg rulers. — Hortus. — Gardeners'' Chronicle. 



VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF SMYRNA. 



In a very elaborate report on the trade and commerce 

 of Smyrna for the years 1877 to ISSl, the British Consul 

 has given some very interesting details on the products 

 of the country. The following abstracts under their re- 

 spective heads will, no doubt, prove acceptable to our 

 readers. Thus we are informed that dried fruits are the 

 most important of the many exports of Smyrna, employ- 

 ing a vast amount of labour, and giving an adequate re- 

 turn for the outlay of capital. Foremost among them are 



Kaisins. — Those growing in the district of Smyrna are of 

 four descriptions — black, red. Sultanas, and Currants. The 

 black, which are export^id chietiy to France, are used exclusive- 

 ly for wine making, and for the distilling of spirit. The red 

 and Sultanas are for the table and fetch a much higher price 

 than the black. Currants are shipped in insgnificant quan- 

 tities, bat are necessarily included in the general export. 



The exportation of this fruit has increased greatly diu-ing 

 tiie last few years. The ordinary crop some years since did 

 not exceeil 25,000 tons, but the cultivation having been ex- 

 tended to meet the demand the export in 1877 and 1878 ad- 

 vanced to 28,500 tons each year, and for the three following 

 years it averaged 48,600 tons, aud in value nearly £1.000,000 

 sterling. The production of black Raisins especially has been 

 I argely developed since 1877. In that year France consumed 

 little more than 7>000 tons of this species of fruit; in 1879 

 h«r consumption rose to nearly 20,000 tons, and it advanced 

 in 1880 and 1881 to an average of 25,500 tons. As the 

 demand from France — in consequence of the ravages of the 

 Phylloxera in her own vineyards, and a succession of bad 

 vintages — still continues, and appears likely to increase year 

 by year, the cultivation of the vine in the district of 

 Smyrna is extending, even in a ratio disproportionate, it 

 may be, to the future demand, and there is some danger 

 lest the supply should overrun the demand, and the profits 

 go to the consumers rather than to the producers. 



Smyrna Raisins are of four qualities. The best are grown 

 on the peninsula of •Carabouruon. at the entranctr to the 

 Gulf of Smyrna ; the second quality at Vourlah, within the 

 Gulf, and at Phokes, just outside it; the third at Chesme, 

 on the coast, opposite Scio ; the fourth, called Ycrli, in the 

 neighbourhood of Smyrna, and inland. Between the value 

 of the first and last qualities there is a difference of from 

 50 to 60 per cent. Currants are grown only at Phokes. 



Valonkx. — This well-kuow-n tanning material is ccmiposed 

 of the aco^n cups of Quorcu*; .TCgilojis. and thi^ quantity 

 exported is said to have fluctuated much of late years. 

 The crop begins to reach Smyrna at the end of Septem- 

 ber, and continues to arrive until the August following. 

 Each year's exi)ort, therefore, comprises the crop of the 

 preceding year. It is necessary to dry the cups for some 

 months before shipment in order to avoid fermentation, 

 which would greatly diminish the value. Shipment is made 

 from Deceml>er to August. England takes at least two- 

 thirds of the entire export, an<l chiefly of the middling 

 qualities, while Austria will have none but the finest, anil 

 Italy is content with the refuse, Venice, however, demands 

 the best. The Yalonca Oak grows wild all along the west 



coast of Asia Minor from the Dardanelles to Adalia. and 

 for about 200 miles inland. There are three different 

 growths — first, that of Nazli, Davas, and Ghiunda; second, 

 that of Aidia, Demirjik, Borlo, Butb-mn, and the Dardan- 

 elles ; and third, that of Ushak. The quality of the Valonea 

 depends on its being thick and heavy and of a hght ash 

 colour. 



Madder Roots (Rubia tinctorum). — Madder, or Alizari, 

 was some years since one of the principal exports of 

 Smyrna, the yearly shipment reaching 65,000 to 70,000 

 quintals; but it has now fallen almost entirely out of 

 demand, being superseded^by cochineal. The average an- 

 nual export of five years was only 1,678 bales of about 800 

 lb. each. The root used to be largely cultivated in Asia 

 Minor for its red dye — the garance of the French; but 

 the cultivation has almost ceased, and the root is now dug 

 up merely to make room for some more profitable erop, 

 and is sold to cover the expense of its extraction. The 

 average price of Smyrna during the five years has been 

 13s 6d to 14s per cwt. free on board. Germany, England, 

 and the United States being the customers. 



Opicm (Papaver somxiferum). — The export of this, the 

 most costly product of Smyi'ua, has varied considerably 

 during the five years in question, for th^: crop depends 

 entirely upon the season. The export of 1881 was the 

 largest ever known in one year. Opium is gi-own in the 

 valleys and plains of the interior, au'l also in the high- 

 lands, tliroughout a wide extent of country, from Kutaya 

 and 35alukhissar in the north to Islarta and Koniah in the 

 south. Its quality vai'ies in different localities, and depends 

 on the quantity of morphine it contains. Thus the best 

 that is grown at Balukhissar and Ushak, for it contains 

 11 to IH per cent of that principle; that from Akliissar 

 aud KirSagatch contains from S to 10 per cent; that from 

 Afium Karahissar from Ih to 9 per cent; that from Koniah 

 only from 7 to 8 per cent. The best customer for the 

 opium of SmjTua is England, though but a small quantity 

 is consumed at home, the greater portion being reshipped 

 to the United States, Cuba, aud British Guiana ; indeed, 

 the lai'ger part of the export to America goes by way of 

 Liverpool. A considerable quantity is also shipped, via 

 Egypt, for China, Hongkong, Singapore, and Java. The 

 average value of the opium exported from Smyi na during 

 the five years in question was £517,300 a year. 



Poppy Seed. — Notwithstanding the abundant opium crop 

 of 1881, the export of Poppy seed has experienced no 

 development, but has fallen off since 1877, when it reached 

 4.220 tons to'l,493tons in 1879, to 836 tons in 1880, and to 283 

 tons in 1881. This is owing hoth to the extension of the cul- 

 tivation aud to an increased home consumption of the seed, 

 the oil of which is largely consumed by the Turkish pea- 

 santry of Asia Minor. This oil is used in Europe to grease 

 machinery, for which it is well adapted, as it does not 

 readily congeal, and in the manufacture of soap. The seed 

 is exported chiefly to France, Germany, Holland, aud Italy ; 

 none to England or the United States. 



Tobacco and Tumuekt.— Though the cultivation of To- 

 bacco has greatly extended of late years in the district of 

 Smyrna, its exportation has not been affectetl to any mate- 

 rial extent, as the foreign demand is limited. The greater 

 portion of the crop exported is sent to Egypt and other 

 parts of the Ottoman Empire. The principal foreign con- 

 sumers are the Russians, after whom come the Germans. 

 England takes but a trifling portion of the export. Ana- 

 tolian tobacco is of three qualities ; the best grown at 

 Lighda, in the district of Euilcmish and at Ayaslouk, near 

 Ephesus, both in the valley of the Cayster; the second 

 comes from Baindyr and Thyra, in the same valley ; from 

 Percamosi, in the ( 'aicus valley ; and from Denizli, in the 

 Meander vallev ; tlie third from Magnesia, Cassaba, and 

 other sjiot* in the plain of the Hermus, although Magnesia 

 also gro^vs some of the finest quality. The export was 

 very large in 1880, and it was valued at ;£310,4l.H>; but in 

 the following year i: fell off enormously, not reaching 

 one-tenth of tliat sum in value. This decline was in part 

 owing to the drought and locusts in that year, but also 

 in great measure to the fact that the Russians, having 

 begun to grow Tobacco in Circassia and in the Crimea, 

 have raised the duties on foreign growths, and thus take 

 a mueb smaller supply from Smyrna. The entire crop from 

 Euilemish and Ayaslo\ik has hitherto gone to the Hussiau 

 market. Tumbeki is a <lesci-iptiou of Tobacco giowu in 



