May i, 1885.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



837 



is from one-half to 2 grains, and, nnless in large dose's, 

 it does not manifest any toxic action. In a popular 

 lecture in this theatre it is not necessary, nor would it 

 be appropriate, for me to say more as to the medicinal 

 properties of this new remedy. Although its therapeutical 

 value was discovered only a few months ago, its 

 fame has already extended to the utmost hounds of 

 civilization, and the only barriers to its extended use 

 are its scarcity and costliness. 



FURTHER POSSIBLE POPULAR USES OP COCA. 



It is a very curious fact, that about three-fourths of 

 the human race consume, as beverages or otherwise, five 

 different articles, all of which have exactly the same 

 active principle, viz., an akaloid called Tin ine which received 

 its name from having been first discovered in tea. The 

 substances referred to are tea, coffee, mate or Paraguay 

 tea,* guaranaf and cola nut,{ and so far as we know, 

 these are the ouly plants of the whole vegetable kingdom 

 that contain Theine. But we now hope that we have 

 discovered a rival to the Theine group in Ooca, as it 

 possesses powers that will render it still more useful as 

 a beverage. For those who have much rueutal work to 

 get through, Coca will prove a stimulating, soothing and 

 refreshing beverage ; and to those having to undergo 

 much physical exertion, it will be found of great value 

 from its sustaining, recuperative and refreshing qualities. 

 I belive we have found in it the popular beverage of 

 the future, that which our teetotal friends have been 

 so long searching for, viz., an article that will, in 

 physiological utility and popular estimation, take the place 

 of alcoholic drinks. Tea and other substances, of which 

 the active principle is Theine, increase the waste of the 

 body especially when the amount of food U insufficient, 

 whereas Cocaine has a conservative and sustaining intiueuce 

 under similar circumstances. Again, tea is sometimes 

 taken to prevent sleep, and Coca, in full doses, has the 

 same effect, while in moderate doses it induces sleep, 

 and will be found specially useful in insomnia as the 

 result of overwork. We have thus, you see, a very 

 useful agent in this substance, and what is now chiefly 

 wanted is the discovery of some method of preparing 

 it that will make its use as easy as that of tea or 

 coffee, and the resulting preparation as grateful and 

 acceptable to the million. Mr. Holmes, Curator of the 

 Pharmaceutical Society's Museum, writes to me : — "It is 

 a useful digestive and tonic, and if the leaf could be 

 dried in the form of tea, so as to be used like coffee 

 as an after-dinner beverage, and flavoured like the finest 

 Chinese tea cither by a carefully-watched fermentation 

 before' drying or by flavouring with Jasmiuum sambac, 

 Rose flowers, Olea fragraus, Aglaia odorata, or any 

 other delicate perfume that would mask the flavour 

 of Ooca, it might be introduced over here." 



It now therefore remains for the planter and chemist 

 to devise some mode of preparation, that will render 

 the substance acceptable as a dietetic beverage in Europe. 

 A fluid extract which is now in use to a small extent; 

 apparently retains all the active properties of Coca; 

 but it is treated more as a drug than as a seductive 

 and comforting luxury, and what we want is an article 

 that will appeal to the palate of the many, just as tea 

 and coffee do. As further uses are found for Cocaine, 

 its consumption will increase, and if we also had a tea- 

 like Coca, the demand for the leaves would be very large. 

 The subject I feel sure, only needs to be brought to 

 the " notice of our enterprising planters to secure their 

 attention, and if the culture of Coca can be made 

 profitable, the South Indian planter will very soon take 

 it up. — Madras Times. 



* The leaves of Ilex paraguensis. 

 t The seeds of Faulliuia sorbilis. 

 X The seeds of Sterculia acuminata. 



' ROUGH ON CORNS.' 



Ask for AVells' "Rough on Corns." Quick relief, com- 

 plete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. \V. K. 

 Sjutk & Co.. Madras. Sole Agents 



SuGAH AS Fred for Stock.— The low price of sugar in 

 England is inducing farmers there to inquire into the 

 ny of feeding it to fattening stock. In this 

 country we always feed more or less sugar to cattle in 

 the stalks of Iudian corn and sugar cane, and in the 

 sugar beet. Sugar is very fattening, and, if our sorghum 

 industry proves successful, the coarse grades of sugar may 

 be produced cheaply enough to be fed to stock which 

 it is especially desirable to fatten rapidly.— Princt Edward 

 Island Agricultwfist. 



Indian and Ceylon Tea. — The Annual Report 

 of Messrs. Geo. White & Co. on this market will be 

 read (-^ee page 83S) with interest by Ceylon planters. 

 It will be seen that the increased area planted 

 in Ceylon and Sylhet, is not regarded as a discourag- 

 ing sign from the sellers' point of view, as, it is 

 judged, future requirements will; cover the increased 

 production. Messrs. White & Co. give the warning 

 so often repeated in our columns already, that quality 

 must not be sacrificed to quantity, if "p cuniary 

 result " is the object of the planter, and to obtain 

 a good name for bis plantation. The hints giveu as 

 to preparation deserve careful consideration. 



Stossx Tennis Courts. — In reply to the inquiry 

 of H. N. in your last issue, as to the best method of 

 removing moss from tennis courts, I cannot recommend 

 a more certain cure thau an application of Norwegian 

 fish guano. It destroys moss, and brings up in its place 

 the finest grasses of a rich olive-green. The lawns 

 dressed with this manure are simply perfection in the 

 closeness of growth, and are consequently well able to 

 resist the wear and tear of constant play. "With regard 

 to the query by " Corsair," I do not consider that any 

 external remedy will entirely destroy weeds ; they must 

 be eradicated with the fork. But the growth of fine 

 grass, stimulated by fish guano, tends very materially 

 to prevent their extension. After all possihle weeds are 

 extracted, and the ground dressed with fish guano, I 

 recommend a light coating of coke dust, which washes 

 into the soil, makes a remarkably firm surface, and is 

 prejudicial to the formation of worm casts. I have 

 played an an absolutely perfect lawn produced in this 

 manner, and on my recommendation, our club courts are 

 now being similarly treated. — C. C. B. (Blackheath). — 

 Field. 



Whitewash for Outbuildings. — The following recipe 

 is timely and reliable: — "As we have often recommend- 

 ed good white-wash, well applied to fences, sheds, rough 

 siding, and the walls and oiling of buildings, cellars, 

 etc.. has a highly sanitary influence, as being very pre- 

 servative in its effects. To be durable whitewash should 

 be prepared in the following manner: — Take the very 

 best stone lime, and slake it. in a close tub, covered 

 with a cloth to preserve the steam. Salt — as much as 

 can be dissolved in the water used for slaking and 

 reducing the lime — should be applied, and the whole 

 mass carefully str; ind thickened with a small 



quantity of sand, the purer and finer the better. Afew 

 pounds of wheat flour mixed as paste may be added, 

 and will give greater durability to the mass, especially 

 when applied to the exterior surface of buildings. With 

 pure lime, properly slaked and mixed with twice its 

 weight, of iin" san 1. and silted wood ashes, iu equal 

 proportions, almost any color may be made by the ad- 

 dition of pigments. Granite, slate, freestone and other 

 shades may he imitated, and without any detriment to 

 the durability of the wash. This covering is very often 

 applied, and with good effects, to underpinning, stone 

 fences, roofs and the walls of barns and other outbuildings. 

 Probably the pure whitewash is more healthy than the 

 colored, as its alkalescent proprietors are superior, and 

 wheu used in cellars, kitchens and sleeping apartments 

 produces salutary results. No person who regards the 

 health of his family should fail to have applied a coat 

 of such white-wash every spring. Country places, especially 

 farm outhouses, fences, etc., are greatly improved in 

 appearance by an annual coat, and it will add to their 

 permanency much more than many would imagine. As 

 we all know, is is cheap and easily applied, so that 

 neither expense nor labour can he pleaded against it " 

 — BaHimorean. 



