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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[August i, 1&4. 



It is scarcely worth while replying to " Veritas " 's as- 

 sertion that he found " filings iu Indian teas as long as 

 the nail of his little finger." Probably it was a portion 

 of the iron nails, and present through careless opening of 

 the package. The same remark would equally apply to 

 a piece of the bag found iu the household sugar-basin. 



The extract from the Grocer re clay in tea, was answered 

 conclusively 11 years ago, aud is no fault of the planter, 

 but occurs iu the London docks aud Melbourne wharves* 

 equally to China and Indian teas, though very rarely here. 

 Mr. W. Roberts says, " The objectionable, if not disgust- 

 ing, method of pressing down the teas, after emptying in 

 the docks, in the chests, when refilling, by workmen's feet, 

 clad with dirty boots or shoes, ought to be at once done 

 away with." 



The Indian Tea Districts Association have protested 

 against the dock business over and over again, and failing 

 to move the London Customs, have lately addressed the 

 Secretary of State for India on the subject. The Crutched 

 Friars warehouse now bulk and repack all tea by 

 machinery, and I believe other dock warehouses will soon 

 ollow the same plan. 



That Indian or China teas, if taken in excess, may be 

 dujurious to the nervous and digestive system is an un- 

 beniable fact, and proved in the case of China teas long 

 nefore the advent of Indian teas. But if a person can- 

 aot be moderate in drinking anything, it is best to abstain 

 fltogether. I have a large family aud establishment, and 

 iaom the youngest child (5 years old) to the eldest (18 

 iears) all have been drinking Indian tea and nothing 

 else for the last four years, and we have all enjoyed 

 plendid health during that period, and I can be con- 

 qrmed by several humdred similar cases. 



" Veritas " is evidently not up in the first principles of 

 tea-tasting, which, like analysis, adopts short methods to 

 obtain quick results, and so save time. It is probable that 

 4,99!) persons out of 5,000 do not infuse and drink tea as 

 the professional taster does. In fact, the most reliable 

 test for tea is to infuse it in the home teapot, and 

 drink it with milk and sugar, as the bulk of consumers 

 usually do. The experienced tea-taster is continually 

 checking and correcting his judgment in this manner ; 

 and so when he liquors, with his pretty toy cups and 

 saucers holding about 50 gr. of tea and 4^ oz. of water, the 

 higher test is always kept in mind, and his judgment formed 

 from the experience so gained. If this is not done it is 

 very like a grown-up man in a senile condition having a 

 child's tea party all by himself. 



" Veritas " 's " filthy, curdled appearance" is untrue, and 

 won't apply, as any dictionary will point out. But some 

 few Indian and China teas of the very finest quality present, 

 under one condition only, and when the infusion is cold, 

 a cloudy appearance, or as if milk had been added. Heat 

 the liquor again, and all is bright and clear. It denotes 

 strength, and more water or less tea should be used. Such 

 samples are highly-valued in London, as much as Is per lb. 

 mere being often paid over the ordinary price for other 

 samples. 



Turning to my note-book, I find that out of 7,08< I different 

 samples of Indian teas liquored, over 1,900 turned thick to 

 a more or less degree. About L'OO of these have been speci- 

 ally examined, and with the like result iu every instance : 

 say — 50 grains of tea infused in 4J oz. of boiling water 

 (for five minutes) gives a 'bright infusion at first, but 

 thickness in one hour's time : on again heating, gets bright 

 and keeps bright so long as the infusion is hot. Twenty- 

 five grains of the same tea infused in 4i oz. of boiling 

 water far some time, infusion bright and clear, even after 

 four to six hours' standing. 



The experiments tried with China teas were reversed, 

 and 100 grains of tea infused in 4J oz. of boiling water 

 for five minutes, with similar results as to thickness, 

 but only a very few of the China teas give so good a 

 result. 



Such experiments can be repealed by any one, and the 

 conclusions to be drawn are unmistakable, and tend to 

 indicate that iu many cases half-a-pound of Indian tea 

 is equal to one pound of China tea, and in liquoring with 

 the little pots of tea-tasters, this important fact must be 

 allowed for, or errors of judgment will mark the taster's 

 worfc. 



The delicious bouquet and aroma of Indian teas require 

 no dilating upon from me. They always speak for them- 

 selves. How hard it is to part with the fallacies of our 

 childhood ! Aud yet the notion of crops in connexion 

 solely with China teas in one of them, and leaves ex- 

 hausted by rain is another of them. They are the pretty 

 figments of the Chinese to cover a doubtful practice — at 

 times dishonest. 



As representing the largest importers of China teas in 

 this market, it is unreasonable to suppose that I wish 

 to injure this trade, but because the exigencies of our 

 poorer colonists require a cheaper article, so it is oblig- 

 atory in their interest, and " as far as within our power 

 to limit and direct the demand to pure, sound, aud 

 wholesome, if not high class tea, and further protect 

 them, if possible, from such unwholesome rubbish as 

 lately arrived by the " Anialfi " and other vessels, and 

 also from any such schemes as Chapongs. — I am, etc., 



June 16th. J. O. Moody. 



— Argus, June 17th. 



THE ENEMIES OF TKA AND CACAO. 



So much attention has lately been drawn to the 

 ravages of a disease or blight, or insect-pest, or what- 

 ever it may be, upon what is likely to become one 

 of our chief industries, namely cacao, that we think 

 it well to recapitulate and extract what information 

 we have concerning such enemifs as Bed Spider and 

 Tea Bug or Helopeltis, Before discussing these insects, 

 however, we give the following from a book called 

 " The Tropical Agriculturist," published iu 1833 by 

 G. K. Porter, with the hope that it may throw light 

 on some of the points which are just now puzzling 

 our cacao planters : — 



Many of the injuries to which cacao trees are liable, arise 

 from the attacks of insects. The most destructive of these 

 s a small caterpillar of an ashy-grey colour, and furnished 

 with two horns, the points of which are directed upwards. 

 These caterpillars conceal themselves in holes, which they 

 make in the bark of the tree : they must be picked out and 

 destroyed by hand. On being squeezed they emit a hissing 

 sound, resembling that which accompanies the falling of water 

 upon heated iron, and they are so tenacious of life, that they 

 exhibit active signs of vitality for some time after the head 

 has been separated from the body. Another very destructive 

 insect frequently makes its appearance at the commence- 

 ment of the rainy season. This likewise takes the caterpillar 

 form, is commonly about four inches long, as thick as a 

 man's finger, and of various colours. These animals are so 

 numerous iu some seasons, that if allowed, they would 

 quickly strip the trees of every appearance of foliage, and it 

 is necessary to employ all hands for their extirpation. To 

 complete this object effectually, as soon as the insects have 

 put on the butterfly form, large fires should be kindled in 

 different parts of the plantation, to which they will immedi- 

 ately fly, and may be readily destroyed. 



Another description of insect, called by Spanish planters, 

 roaguilltt, flourishes in dry seasons, and must be attacked by 

 equally vigorous measures. Others, which they call acen-e- 

 dores, resemble in form the worms first described, but are 

 larger aud black ; these destroy the bark, and gnaw the wood 

 of the trees, while the leaves and flowers form the objects of 

 attack to the descriptions before-mentioned. 



Some of these pests form their nests in the earth, and 

 when discovered, may be effectually destroyed by pouring 

 water into their nests, and stirring them together until the 

 whole is reduced to a semi-fluid state. 



All parasitic plants must be carefully removed as soon as 

 they appear upon the trees, otherwise these will very quickly 

 perish. A few hours in each week, devoted to this task, will 

 generally suffice for its due accomplishment; but it is a work 

 which cannot be neglected with impunity. 



Cacao trees are likewise subject to a disease, which shows 

 itself in the form of black 6pots, or blotches, on the bark, 

 and which, as soon as they appear, should be carefully cut 

 out, or the trees will quickly die. This disease does not 

 make its appearance until the trees are in a bearing state. 

 The disease described in the last paragraph, which 

 appears in the shape of black spots or blotches on 



