79 



opposite direction, and in Nature for July I ith he narrates the results 

 of some experiments that he made with dried seeds, from which he 

 concludes that in every case they can resist surprisingly high 

 temperatures. For instance in Medicago, 10 per cent, of the see ls 

 germinated after an exposure of one hour to uo°C = 262 F. 

 and then to another hour to 121 C = 28 1° F. The effect of ex- 

 posure to high temperature is, however, noticeable by the ex- 

 tremely slow growth afterwards. Seeds that resist, as many do, 

 the action of poisonous vapours owe their immunity, not to the 

 quiescence or power of resistance of the protoplasm, but to the 

 imperviousness of the seed-coat, for if this be punctured before the 

 seeds are exposed to poisonous vapours or liquids, then the per- 

 nicious effect of the poisons is rendered evident, as the seeds do 

 not germinate. 



The Queensland Agricultural Journal for May has the following 

 interesting Article on u Foxy Coffee", a condition which denotes 

 the adhesion of the silver skin to the seed, and into which the 

 colouring matter contained in the outer skin and fruity portion 

 of the cherry has infiltrated. It is said that the quality of the 

 Coffee is not injured thereby. 



TROPICAL INDUSTRIES— FOXY COFFEE. 



In our last issue we published a most interesting article on 

 " Foxiness in Coffee", by Mr. H. NEWPORT, Instructor in Coffee 

 Culture for this State. The following article on the same subject 

 appeared in a late number of the Tropical Agriculturist, Ceylon, 

 and fully endorses the remarks of Mr. NEWPORT. The article is 

 addressed to the Editor of the Planting Opinion, and reads as 

 follows : — 



To Editor Planting Opinion : 



Sir, — With reference to Mr. P. G. TlPPING'S query re "Foxy 

 Coffee" in your impression of the 5th instant, I think he will find 

 the following information of some use. Speaking on the subject 

 at the U. P. A. S. I. meeting in 1899, Mr. Graham ANDERSON, 

 C. I. E., said : This term " foxy" denotes a reddy-brown appearance 

 of the seed caused by the adhesion of the silver skin into which 

 the colouring matter contained in the outer skin and fruity portion 

 of the cherry has infiltrated. This appearance is undoubted 

 evidence of the fruit having been picked when quite ripe, and 

 nearly all really good, cherry-dried coffee, which is so highly 

 esteemed in France, is thus indelibly marked. The quality of 

 the coffee is in no way injured, the stain being superficial and 

 confined to the silver skin, which can easily be scraped off with a 

 penknife. If roasted carefully, the aroma will be found excellent, 

 which is another proof of maturity. If a quantity of ripe coffee 

 fruit is heaped or kept in a cistern, fermentation will take place, 

 and the red colouring of the skin and fruity poitions will sink into 

 the gummy substance surrounding the " parchment" precisely in 



