1 84 



(THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1884. 



Cinnamon WEIGHTS. — A London firm, referring to 

 a cinuamou proprietor's inquiries as to the loss of 

 weight in cinnamon, says : — An idea appears to be 

 current among some that the loss in weight shown 

 in account sales is due either to excessive samples 

 being drawn, or to carelessness in preparation for 

 sale, which is quite a mistake. As a matter of fact, 

 the weight of samples drawn does not on an average 

 exceed ^ lb. per bale, and the loss of weight as shown 

 by the landing account which represents the weight 

 of the bales as they are landed before being manipul- 

 ated at the Docks, and the re-weight account which 

 is taken after the goods are sold, is very trilling in- 

 deed. An account of a parcel of 7i> bale-i taken quite 

 at random shows that the re-weight is in exces 

 over the weight shown in the landing account, whic.h 

 proves to us that the loss of weight must take place 

 on the vovage home owing to driage or some other 

 such cause — always supposing the shipping weights 

 are correctly taken. With reference to the proposal 

 that every bale should not be worked — only oue 

 bale of each quality being opened, we fear the trade 

 would not buy on such terms. If the prejudices of 

 the buyers could be overcome, and they were per- 

 suaded to purchase on these conditions, no doubt a 

 saving in the expense of preparing for sale would 

 be effected, but we doubl whether you would not 

 lose more in price than you would save in charges 

 by any attempt to bring about such an arrangement, 

 even supposing that it was possible to sell at all." — 

 "Ceylon Examiner." 



Ritea fii'.re is thus noticed in the proceedings of the 

 Horticultural Society of India: — 



Among other applications for information uudcr this 

 head, the following was received from Messrs. Begg, 

 Dunlop & Oo. :— 



■• We beg to send herewith a small tin containing a 

 sample of Rhea nine, made from lthea plant grown in 

 Assam, and manufactured by a New Zealand Sax-dressing 

 machine. Will you kindly have this examined by an 

 authority, and let us know his opinion of it as also 

 its commercial value ? Any hints you can obtain for us 

 as to planting, growing, time of cutting, etc., would be 

 most acceptable, as the gentleman who has sent the 

 sample has only grown a little as an experiment." 



The sample was submitted to the Fibre Committee, and 

 the following report was kindly furnished by the president: — 



"I have carefully examined these samples of Bhea fibre. 

 I am of opinion that in their present form and condition 

 they are of little or no commercial value. 



'•The utmost possible care and attention are required in 

 tho manipulation of the cut stalks of this plant, Kith 

 a view to separating and preparing the fibre therefrom. 

 These samples exhibit a want of the requisite knowledge 

 anil needful care in their preparation to make them 

 sufficiently valuable and attractive to the trade, which 

 hitherto has been confined to the Home markets. 



"I advise that further samples should be prepared and 

 submitted, that in doing so all particles of bark, hard 

 conglomerated pieces of gummy, mucilaginous matter, 

 be avoided, aud kept out of the sample, and that some 

 data should likewise be afforded as to the we : ght of the 

 stalks which have been operated upon, the quantity of fibre 

 extracted, and the cost of doing so. all such information 

 being essential if an experiment is to be of any value for 

 future guidance." W. H. Cogswell, 



The SaiioT i;ee. — We find the following interesting 

 particulars regarding the sago tree in the Amsterdam 

 Handelshlad : — "In Liak and Kumper the rvmbia or 

 sago trees, which grow luxuriantly in some district. 

 an important trade product to the inhabitants. 'I'!: 

 obtained from them is more in demand thantapioca flour, 

 and will also find readier sale, from its being serviceable 

 not only as food but also for making starch. In the 

 islands of felling, Tinggi, and Merhan, extensive sago 

 plantations may be found which, at little expense for 

 up-keep, bring the owners large profits." When it is 

 taken into account that full grown trees — those that 



have attained a growth of from 7 to 8 years — find a 

 ready sale at a Mexican dollar each, and that by 

 means of imperfect appliances two or three dollars 

 worth of sago is secured therefrom, it will be easily 

 seen what the profits may be wheu sago is prepared 

 on a large ecale by machinery. Should the European 

 market become available for large consignments of 

 this produot, sago-growing will become a very impor- - 

 tant and profitable investment. Unless we are misin- 

 formed, sago cultivation on a lar^o scale has been 

 undertaken in the Straits Settlements, in consequence 

 of the terrible depression in the tapioca trade. — Indian 

 '.urist. 



The Fibre Company's Machine. — After writing 

 our recent notice (p. 108), we received a specimen of 

 the beautifully clean and strong fibre of Sanseviera 

 Zeylanica (Tamil "marul") cleaned at Coimbatoro 

 by Smith's patent scutcher, ami which sold in 

 London in April 1SS4 at £10 per ton. There can 

 be no doubt that the machines clean the fibres beauti- 

 fully. But the question is a commercial one as to 

 the quantity per diem which can be cleaned, and 

 we do not anticipate any sale for machines here in 

 Ceylon until those interested in getting them dis- 

 posed of, give practical proofs of their capacity, such 

 as was given recently in the case of Jackson's Maud 

 Tea Holler. 



Ceylon-grown Pepper. — A specimen of "white 

 pepper" grown on Lunugala estate, Panga'a, has 

 been sent to us, and two authorities pronounce 

 it good. One writes as follows : — " The sample of 

 white pepper is good, but the grains arc small. All 

 peppers, both white and black, have, during the last 

 three or tour years, advanced in prices very much — 

 I think from exceptional causes such as the Acheen 

 war. In Juue 18S0, Singapore and Penang black 

 was selling at about 3fd to Id per lb. in London, and 

 white at 5£d to Gd per lb. In June 1881, prices had 

 advanced to 5d to r.'.d for black, and 7d to 7 id 

 for white. In Juno 1 ->S-2, black was worth 5|d and 

 white Oil per lb. In June 1S83, prices were the same 

 as in the previous year. This year, the price of 

 black-advanced to about (ill and 'white 9Jd to lO'.d 

 per lb. ! For several vein prior to 1880. the normal 

 values of Penang and Singapore black and white 

 p pper were Si 1 and 5d to 6d per lb. respectively." 

 As there docs not seem to be any immediate prospect 

 of a cessation of the wretched conflict between the 

 Dutch and Malays in Ache«n (the point of Sumatra 

 nearest Ceylon), we fancy the cultivation of pepper 

 in Ceylon, if carefully conducted, might result iu 

 profit. Kapok trees are excellent supports for the 

 vine. 



T he Theobroma Cacao.— In a short time the [Regent 

 Park L'otanio] gardens will be in their full beauty, 

 and visitors and students alike may delight in their 

 green attractions. At the present moment the plant 

 from the seeds of which cacao and chocolate are pro- 

 duced is a great object of interest. The Theobroma 

 cacao is a native of tropical America, and, though it 

 has been grown as a curiosity here and elsewhere, tho 

 first example of the fruit coming to perfection in this 

 country may be seen at the Regent's Park. The two 

 specimens in the orchid house are only a few feet 

 high ; the flowers are iu great profusion, seated on 

 the older branches, and spring directly from the bark 

 in clusters. By means of artificial fertilization several 

 fruits have been set, and ono has nearly arrived at 

 full growth, but the colour, owing to insufficient sun- 

 light, has net been fairly developed. However, ob- 

 serves the secretary, to have struggled through all the 

 adverse conditions in which it is placed, and to have 

 arrived at its present state, although perhaps not 

 perfect, causes it to be more admired by Englishmen, 

 who, one and all glory in success under difficulties. 

 — Chemist and Druggist, 



