Nov. 2, 1885] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



325 



we know as much about it as we do of leaf-disease. 

 This last-named pest has been " worked out," and 

 we know the worst, which, if a poor, is a reliable 

 satisfaction. We are expected to " leave footprints 

 on the sands of time." Dr. Gardner's " footprints " 

 you admit .tre no good on this subject. Why then 

 should we let the matter '• rest tor the present " ? 

 No, no. " Now 's the day and now 's the hour," I 

 say : let us know the worst, if worst it is, so that 

 40 years afterwards our work can stand the light 

 of day and not be called " absurd and childish." 



I don't expect you will do all I ask tor ray sake, 

 and 1 don't thinlc you would do it for your own 

 sake, but I do expect yon will do it for your adopted 

 country's sake. — Yours truly, 



A BLACK-BUGGED SUPERINTENDENT. 



rUoe!> this much-tried superintendent wish us to 

 advocate the employment of another Mr. Marshall 

 Ward, to obsen'e the working of bug, in order to 

 write its Ufe-history, and to tell us, that, as in 

 the case of the coffee fungus, the phylloxera, and 

 other similar pests, there is no practical remedy 

 within the reach of the agriculturist ? After the " leaf- 

 disease campaign " we should suppose that even 

 " bugged superintendents " would have cried" Hold' 

 enough," in referent e to further discussions of t he 

 same complexion. However, if our present corre- 

 spondent, or any other sufferer, has observations 

 to record, or opinions to express, we shall be glad 

 to hear from him and to discuss his views. — En.] 



A Piece of Amber, weighing eight pounds, is at 

 present being exhibited in the Mark Museum at 

 Dantzig, for which the owner has refused £1,500. 

 It is probably the largest piece in the world without 

 blemish. — Pioneer. 



Dii. Gardn-ek's Report on Coffee " Bug " 

 which first saw the light in 184S, when it was 

 fully discussed in the Uhscrver, and is now reprinted 

 at the instance of the Planters' Association, is 

 of historical and personal, rather than of pract- 

 ical or scientific interest. In fact it is so far be- 

 hind, in its scientific portions, the level of the 

 knowledge of the present day, that it would probably 

 be treated as absurd and childish by advanced 

 scientists. Dr. Trimen is responsible for remind- 

 ing the Planters' Association of the existence of 

 this Report, but we question if the worthy Di- 

 rector has been flattered by the request to have 

 it reprinted after a lapse of well-nigh forty years. 

 However the paper is a curiosity in itself" and 

 we may reprint all, or selected portions, in the 

 Tropical Agriculturist. As regards remedies, 

 Gardner had just the same story to relate as 

 regards " bug" as we have since experienced in 

 respect of "H. V." or tho leaf fungus; — numerous 

 remedies tried: none have had the desired effect. 

 Dr, Gardner closed his report, with the passage 

 \v8 have so often quoted, namely ;—• 



" From all I hava seen of the pest, I am Inclined to 

 believe that i: is not under huuian control ; and that, 

 if over it disappears from the island, or at least 

 becoxucs 80 r.u;ch ftmel;or.T,;ed in its effects as 

 to be productive of but littlo injury to the 

 coffee estates, it will be by rumiing itself 

 out as blights of a somewhat similar nature 

 have been kiio\ni to do in other countries. But 

 whether this may prove to be the case with the coc- 

 cus of the coffee is micertaiii, as the experience of the 

 last live years goes to prove its permanency. 

 And there, the lUscussion of " bug" like that 

 of "leaf disea.se' mu.st, we fear, rest for the 

 present. In a subsequent communication to Gov- 

 ernment, we think Dr. Gardner recommended 

 pumping warm water on bug-infested coffee trees! 



The Dominica Estates.— -A contemporary says : — 

 "The sugar crop for the year is over. Notwith- 

 standing many drawbacks during cultivation, it is 

 not below the average. The greater part of this 

 ( ) -> has been sent to New York, as was done last 

 year in consequence of the depressed state of the 

 English markets. .\. temporary ad\ance in these 

 markets a few mouths ago, it was cx)ifcted, would 

 cause a larger proportion of sugar to tind its way to 

 England this year than last, but the rapid decUne 

 in prices which has lately taken place, with a still 

 downward tendency, has rendered a much further 

 trial of the English market this season exception- 

 ally doubtful." — Overlaml Mail. 



Fi.ii Tea.— Mr. Inglis, of Inglis, : Brown * Co., 

 Sydiiey, writes in a letter to our address. " The 

 Indian branch keeps steadily progresing. We have 

 had very good samples of tea from Fiji. I send 

 you a couple. Ceylon tea w-e would like to handle, 

 but as long as you can get such good prices for 

 Ceylon-grown tea in London, it would be no use 

 sending it here, as the colonial mind still hesitates 

 at giving a good price for a high-class article. If 

 we could have a real and not a sham inspection at 

 this port to exclude deleterious and artificially 

 doctored China stuff', both India and Ceylon would 

 reap large benefit." 



To Mr. Wilson of Messrs. Somerville A Co., 

 vc are indebted for the following opinion on the 

 Fiji teas. Pekoe ,Souchong, lO^d — rather loosely 

 twisted blackish gi-eyish leaf, rather dull flavor thin. 



Orange Pekoe, is lOd on account of tip — blackish 

 brownish mixed leaf, some peokoe ends dusty, fair 

 flavor rather thin. 



N.B. — In consequence of the above samples having 

 been kept so long in paper, they have been rendered 

 dull, the valuationsare therefore a httlo uncertain. 



Anthkactte is China. — Four centuries ago 

 China obtained procelain clay from Ceylon. It 

 is impossible, in view of the following paragi-aph, 

 that China may yet, by a reverse process, send 

 anthracite to Ceylon for tea drying and other 

 purposes. China is more richly blessed with coal 

 than, almost any country, and is remarkable chiofiy 

 for its enormous deposits of anthracite. Rapheal 

 Pumpelly estimates the area of the anthracite fields 

 of the Chansi Province at 14,000 square miles, 

 with an average thickness of 40 feet of coal, 

 while the smaller basin in the south of Hunan 

 has the advantage of being tapped by a navigable 

 river. — Ameriani Grocer. 



An Indian Tea Gomivuny. — The report of the directors 

 of iheDurrungTea Company for the half-year ending 

 30lh June last is not a very insinriting affair. The 

 balance in hand at the commencement of this year, 

 after making provision for a dividend, &o,, appears 

 to have been some K9,808. Tea sold subsequently 

 has realized E23,019, and there is due to tho 

 National Bank and to the Agents E9,237. Some 

 B40,099 has been expended on account o£ 1885, and 

 there is some 112,009 in the manager's hands. Of 

 theR40,099 so spent, only E15,1J18 appears to have 

 been expended on cultivation, new cultivation, pluck, 

 ing, manufacturing, and bonus and freight on coolies; 

 the balance having gone in European establishment, 

 agency charges, .and the thousand and one little items 

 which make a tea company's account resemble a 

 coaclibuilder's bill, much cry and little wool. Of 

 course there has been red spider and curly blight — ■ 

 no tea agent's report would be complete without 

 them ; if there could only be a murrain among tho 

 charges extending unto the agents, the shareholders 

 could better enilure it, but tea agency charges always 

 show a " llush," and unfortunately there is no one 

 to prune them. — " Fionccr," Calcutta Cor, 



