No. 129.] 551 



The Secretary read the following translation made by him 

 since the last meeting : 



.[From the Brazilian Consul M. Aguiar — Auxiliador da Industria Nacional, Rio De Janeiro^ 



October, 1851.] 



Important Discovery — A Mew Tea made of the leaves of the 

 Cofee Tree. — It is well known that the peculiar aromatic and 

 -astringent flavor of the tea of the Indies is due to a principle 

 denominated theine by chemists — it is contained in the leaf of 

 that plant. 



Now, according to Dr. Gardner, a German chemist, he has 

 found the same principle in the leaves of the coffee tree, and in 

 such proportion as to form an excellent tea in all respects similar 

 to that of India. 



To our associate-, Senor J. D. Sturz, we are indebted for the 

 first essays on this subject. He sends for some bags of the leaves 

 to continue his experiments. This society will make experiments 

 with the coffee leaves. Some persons who have tasted this new 

 tea say that it is similar in aroma and taste to the Oriental Tea. 

 We are anxious to procure for our readers and -our country, per- 

 fect light on this interesting subject, which already menaces with 

 destruction the tea trade of the East. 



Moreover, Dr. Gardner says that, by a very simple process, h« 

 extracts from the coffee itself the bitter principle which it con- 

 tains, known by the name of cajfien^ and that this is a complete 

 substitute for quinine — as effectual in medicine as an antifebrile 

 tonic. If the views and hopes of Dr. Gardner shall be realized, 

 what a vast augmentation there must be of the value of our 

 coffee trees! 



[Annales de la Societe Impcriale et Iiidustrielle, A*ricole ct Horticole de St. Petersburg, 1850.] 



To encourage horticulture the Emperor gives to the people of 

 the crown lands, who distinguish themselves in grafiii.g and 

 pruning of fruit trees, premiums in silver from fifteen to twenty 

 roubles, or, if they choose it, a medal of honor to be worn at the 

 button hole. 



