The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



equalled the English figure, seems to me to be 

 somewhat visionary. A few inquisitive Berliners 

 crowding a fashionably and orientally rigged- 

 out room in a fashionable part of the town, will 

 but slightly increase the use of tea by a nation 

 which is wedded to coffee as a beverage. I 

 noticed today, however, in my local paper, an 

 order issued by the German army authorities, 

 which will do more towards popularising the 

 use of tea, than, a thousand fashionable tea 

 rooms could effect. 



The German army being composed of all ranks 

 and classes of the nation, the taste and use of 

 tea will be carried into the remotest villages and 

 hamlets by the time-expired soldier and the 

 humbler classes will bo taught that tea is a 

 palatable beverago, not only to be used in case 

 of illness, the latter idea being the prevalent 

 one amongst the broad masses. The article re- 

 ferred to runs as follows : — 



" The use of tea in the German army is to be encouraged 

 still more than before by order of the Emperor. 



"In many countries, especially those of the Guard regi- 

 ments, tea has been regularly served for some time and 

 is willingly drunk by the soldiers. The new field order 

 supports the imperial endeavours in this direction by 

 describing as desirable the serving out of tea, side by 

 side with coffee, by the travelling field kitchens on long 

 marches. 



"According to the latest statistics, the tea consumption 

 in Germany is very low, one-sixth of a lb, per head of the 

 population against 65 lb in England, The tea producers and 

 traders could hardly wish for a better propaganda than 

 tlie Kmperor's interest in the tea consumption of the army. 

 The use of tea is bound to rise rapidly." 



Hoping that the above will bo of interest to 

 you and your readers, 1 am, Sir, yours faithfully, 

 Waltbb Stiefelhagen. 



Wiesbaden, Germany, Alexandrastrasse 5, 

 28th April, 1908.—/. P. Gazette, May 23. 



LEAF DISEASE SEIZES JAVA'S 

 "COFFEE ROBUSTA." 



Another sore disappointment has befallen 

 coffee planters in Java. The so-called Java berry 

 and the Liberia berry had both failed them 

 from the ravages of leaf disease. Despair seized 

 upon them until they heard that a new kind 

 called Coffee Robusta, which thrived in Java, 

 was proof against the ill. This vaunted sort dis- 

 placed the old varieties on many estates, and 

 the planters rejoiced. They have just received 

 a rude awakening in that leaf disease has 

 broken out on Robusta estates in Mid-Java. — 

 Straits Times, May 15, 



PRICKLY PEAR LEAVES A MOSQUITO 

 PREVENTIVE, 



The most important practical discovery in 

 dealing with the mosquito nuisance since the 

 action of kerosene was understood has been 

 made by a French physician, M. Sanzeau de 

 Puyberneau, who has found that the leaves of 

 the common prickly pear if chopped up and 

 thrown into water will prevent mosquitoes 

 breeding in the water for weeks if not months. 

 The resinous mucilage of the leaves floats on 

 the water surface and chokes the breathing 

 tubes of the mosquito. Further in stagnant 

 fcetid water the prickly pear juico has the 



property of absorbing the gases of decomposi- 

 tion. It is most important that as extensive 

 a trial as possible may be made of this new 

 method of mosquito prevention in the Zanzi- 

 bar Islands. The prickly pear is everywhere, 

 and very little trouble is needed to chop up 

 the leaves and drop the pieces into water, 

 which formerly had to be repeatedly kerosined. 

 — Zanzibar Gazette, April '29. 



THE MANG9STEEN FOR PANAMA. 



Efforts are being made by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture to introduce the 

 cultivation of the mangosteen [arcinia Man- 

 r/ost xna) into parts of the Panama Canal Zone, 

 whore the climate and soil conditions are suit- 

 able. — [Bureau of Plant Industry Report, 1907). 

 —Agricultural Ncius, April 18. 



AGRICULTURE IN GEYLON. 



[From Mr. Slater's Blue Book Report Jor 1907.) 



(i.) The Ceylon Agricultural Society, found- 

 ed in November, 19ul, had at the end of 1907 a 

 membership of 1,168 and 52 branches. 



(ii.) The principle of co-operation has been 

 adopted by more than one of the branch so- 

 cieties, seed and in some cases money being ad- 

 vanced by the local societies to their members 

 at a low rate of interest. Important results 

 are hoped for from the extension of this principle 

 of co-operation and self-help. 



(iii.) Agricultural Instructors are employed 

 in making inspections and giving demonstra- 

 tions in the villages. The utility of these offi- 

 cers has so far been demonstrated that the 

 appointment of an additional Instructor is be- 

 fore the Board. 



(iv.) Twelve successful Agri- Horticultural 

 Shows were held during the year. 



(v.) Cotton cultivation has been introduced 

 into several Provinces, and attention has also 

 been paid to tobacco and improved means of 

 cuiing it. 



(vi.) Other crops which have received special 

 attention, particularly by the introduction of 

 better varieties, are betel (Piper betel), yams 

 (Dioscore;^), chilli (Capsicum), orange, mango, 

 sapodilla, durian and all varieties of vegetables. 



(vii.) The development of the fibre industry 

 and the introduction of suitable machine con- 

 tinue to receive attention. 



(viii. ) The extermination of pestiferous plants, 

 such as illuk and prickly pear, has been carried 

 out in different places. 



(ix.) In connection with paddy cultivation, 

 an effort has been made to encourage trans- 

 planting, judicious manuring and the employ- 

 ment of better seed as well as implements. 



,(x.) School gardens, which are doing ex- 

 cellent work, are being multiplied. 



(xi.) Three additional experimental gardens 

 were started during the year. 



(xii.) The encouragement of sericulture has 

 extended to the purchase of machinery for treat- 

 ing the cocoons of silkworms. 



(xiii.) Bee-keeping makes steady progress. 



(xiv.) The improvement of Stock is being 

 kept well in view with the help of the Veteri- 

 nary Surgeon and his Stock Inspectors. 



