ioi 



fHE t'kOPtCAL AQmciMTvm^t. 



fjAN, I, i88f, 



THEINE AND CAFFEINE NOT IDENTICAL. 



Kecent experiments by Dr. Thomas J. "iMajh, Tlirra- 

 pevtic Gazette, and summarized in the fHvff(/ist.s 

 Cireular, demonstrated tbat the theine of tea, and 

 the caffeine of coffee, were Lot identical, at least, 

 so far as their physiological action is concerned. Dis- 

 covering that the iheice and caffeine of commerce 

 are made " indiscriminately frcm tea, coffee, kolannt 

 or Paraguay tea," he took special pains to secure 

 alkaloid!* beyond suspicion and from two different 

 makers of high repute. The resulti of the use on 

 frogs of theine and caffeine from sources indicated by 

 their names are summed up as follows:— They agree 

 in (I) alfectirg the anterior extremities ; (2) in diminish- 

 ing respiration ; (3) in producing hypenesthesia during 

 the latter stage of the poisoning process. They differ 

 in the following particulars: — (1), Theine princii>ary 

 influences sensation, while caffeine does not ; (2), Tlieine 

 produces spontaneous spas-ms and convulsions, while 

 caffein* does not; (3), Theine imparts the nasal reflex 

 early in the poisoning process, while caffeine does not, 

 if at all, until the very last stage; (4), The lethal 

 dose of theine is larger than that of caffeine. Enough 

 evidence has now been adduced to show that theine 

 and caffeine, while they have properties in common, 

 also differ so widely in others that their separate 

 manufacture becomes imperative in order that they may 

 be more fully investigated both physiologically and 

 clinically ; and it further teaches that a knowledge 

 of the chemical constitution of a substance is a very 

 feeble and misleading guide to its physiological action 

 — Jmirican Grocer. 



COFFEE PEEPABATION : DRYING AND CT^R 



IN INDIA AND CEYLON. 

 (To the Editor |of the " Tropical Agriculturist.") 



Mysore, Dec. 22nd, 1886.t 



Deak Sir,^ — Last year there was considerable at- 

 tention paid bj' planters to the alleged deterioration - 

 of coffee sample. All sorts of theories were proraul 

 gated and a good deal of light was shed on the 

 question. My own idea from experience in Ceylon 

 and India is, that if the Ceylon method of rapid 

 drying and despatch were adopted and closer atten- 

 tion paid by the Coast curers, the trouble would 

 cease. Open sheds close to the barbacue, and a 

 liberal supply of coir-matting will asist {greatly to 

 improve the sample. From what I have been able 

 to learn, the Indian men dry their coffee very slowl^'. 

 The coffee is kept in the sun for 10 or 15 days when 

 by spreading more thinly and using coir-matting five 

 days are ample. I have already this season proved 

 this. When I first came here, I was puzzled at the 

 univtrsal system of raised platforms. I was told 

 that you must do so here as coffee would not dry 

 otherwise. I have proved that it dries on coir-matting 

 in less than half the time required for the raisfd 

 platforms. Men also speak of the cold wind interfer. 

 ing with proper fermentation, a.«: an excuse for badly 

 washed coffee. Old planters have told me that it is 

 no cold at night, that the cofTee mucilage will not 

 come off in the orthodo.x time (o(5 hours). I have 

 proved that that is all fudge. The coffee washes beauti- 

 fully when the coolies are made to tramp it thoroughly. 

 All sorts of theories are put forward. They say 

 that too ripe coffee makes it foxy ; under-ripe coffee 

 makes the colour pale, kc, kc. Evenly picked coffee 

 quickly dried on coit-matting after being well washed 

 and promptly despatched, ought to turn out a good 

 fample if the curers do their duty. 



I cannot he!p thinking that many practices in 

 Togue in Ceylon have been adopted in India without 

 du'y coi:sidering whether these plans are absolutely 

 necpssnry under different conditions. My idea is that. 

 putpin'j, and ii-axhhig coffee was found useful in rainy 

 weather UpCountrJf in Ceylon because of the absence 

 6tj sufficient sunshine. In doubtful weather, parchment 

 is more ensily dealt with than cherry, liut in the 

 normal dry seasoh here, why should not planters dry 

 tljeJr cherry on coir jmats :' Then again mills Tv^re 



erected and worked in Colombo because upcountry 

 fl) there was not f^.^t gnimd available for largo 

 barbecues, (2) there was not a sufficiency of cheap 

 labour, (3) there was no certainty of sunny weather,* 

 and (4) Colombo w^as the seat of eftate financial 

 arrangement and control through the agency firms. But 

 tere, curing works could i-urely be worked if Ihey 

 are worked ni Bangalore. Planters (especially pro- 

 prietors) would like to see what is going on at the 

 mills; but on the Coast everything is done in deep 

 mystery. With cloudless weather, flat country and 

 cheap labour, there is no reason why curing works 

 should not be started nearer the planting districts 

 especially, as we expect a railway soon. If we could 

 dry our cherry on mats and send our coffee to the 

 mills near by, to be peeled and despntched, I feel 

 sure much expense would be saved, and curers would 

 not be left in undisturbed quietness and profit-making. 

 The west coast surely is more humid than towards 

 the east. I myself cannot see the gain in sending 

 the coffee so far out of our sight. Were the curing 

 works brought nearer to us, then a local market would 

 arise and brokers would be attracted ; and these again 

 would attract capitalists to invest in coffee property. 

 Dried green coffee or strippings are universally 

 pouiidtcl ( n the estate as pounding is so cheap. But 

 how injurious is this pounding ! A large percentage 

 is broken by this crude and cruel method. 



There is an idea here that, if you spread the parchment 

 thinly the parchment cover will break. Fudge again. 

 Surely it is injurious to allow the coffee to blister 

 in the sun in very thick layers, for say, 14 days; 

 whereas by a cjuicker method you have your heaps 

 sweet and cool (if properly turned and in open 

 ventilated sheds) with only five days' exposure to 

 sun. 



Heaping coffee in the sun or in close rooms with- 

 out windows is very apt to taint the coffee. 



If we could be sure that these curers gave their 

 strict attention to the care of the coffee entrusted 

 to their charge (for which they exact heavy costs) 

 then things would be more satisfactory. But how 

 much of this work is left to subordinates? There 

 is no sample sent down by post as in Ceylon ; and 

 men use new bags tnrucd inside out to keep the bag 

 clean for home despatch and send the coffee off 

 with the ."eiriiiij^ outside. Then each bag is carefully 

 sealed! What is the good of locking the door of 

 a room with the window left open ? Surely it 

 would pay to keep a stock of bags for country use, 

 and send the coffee home in bran new bags. Still 

 better would it be if casks (as in Ceylon) char^i d 

 in the inside were always used. 



A Ceylon planter when visiting his neigti' our 

 during crop looked at the sample of parchme>.t and 

 commented thereon. Here youngsters of a few years' 

 experience discant learnedly on the proper weij-ht to 

 dry down to. They rub up a handful of parchment 

 and examine the colour with a knowing look when 

 really a planter who has proper appliances should 

 not look inside at all, but be satisfied with colour of 

 his parchment. Some day I must visit the curing 

 w orks at the Coast, and I will send you the result 

 of "a chiel's" notes. 



ABERDONENSIS, 



THE COFFEE INDUSTRY, 



We have all heard the old saying about giving a 

 dog a bad name, and the consequences that would 

 be likely to ensue. The name may be given without 

 any reason, and the application is very general. For 

 instance, several industries in India have had a bad 

 name given tn them, and people are told to keep 

 clear of fhem. The industries may be sound, and 

 such as would pay, and pay Well, in any other 

 country ; but here we are told they are unprofitable. 

 The fault in most cases lies in the way they are 



*' The 1 liiicij) il re i.'Oii : dr.\inf;' and packing roirplet® 

 were tried in Di m'); fa and Hantane, lut even ther* 

 was not conei ieied » i epouomical success. — Ed, 



