604 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



article out of the market, for Mr C W E 

 Cotton, I.C.S., Director-General of Commercial 

 Intelligence, in his Review of the Trade of 

 India for 1907-08, mentions that there was in 

 that year an increase of 14'3 per cent in the 

 imports of tea chests which increase he as- 

 cribes to the 



PREFERENCE EVINCED FOR FOREIGN BOXES, 



because the actual shipments of tea leaf wore 

 smaller in that year than in the previons 

 one. These tea chests are manufactured exclu- 

 sively from the wood of the Bombay Malabari- 

 cum, or silk cotton tree, known also as the pula 

 or aim tree. It grows to a height of 100 

 feet with large girth, the wood being white 

 when fresh cut, but darkening on exposure. 

 It is a soft and perishable timber, but beside 

 being suitable for the making of tea chests, is 

 also used as '< planking, packing cases, toys, 

 fishing floats, water conduits and the lining of 

 wells. The tree takes kindly to almost any des- 

 cription of soil, and grows easily; so there seems 

 to be no reason why its cultivation should not 

 be systematically undertaken in those portions 

 of the Presidency where waste spaces are to be 

 found. A product of the tree which possesses 

 some commercial value is the silk cotton which 

 surrounds the seed and is commercially known as 

 simal or red silk cotton. It is used as a substi- 

 tute for feathers and down and is recommended, 

 when properly carded, for the filling of quilts, 

 etc. It also is said to be better than wool owing 

 to its being proof against the attack of moths 

 and other vermin. — M. M, Nov, 17. 



TEA IN FORMOSA. 



In connection with the statements made 

 during the last few years that the local authori- 

 ties in Formosa were instituting reforms in 

 connection with the tea-growing industry, a few 

 details recently published as to these suggested 

 reforms are interesting. The attempt to give a 

 spurt to the tea trade of Formosa in 1906, the 

 latest date for which statistics are available, 

 took the form of a transfer of taxation. The 

 Formosa local government changed the tea 

 manufacturers' tax so as to make it payable by 

 the exporters instead of by the manufacturers, 

 as was formerly the case. This tax amounts to 

 5s. per picul (133^ lb.). In addition to this tax 

 there is also imposed by the Government an 

 export tax of 3s 4d upon every 133-J lb. During 

 1906 the manufacturers' tax and the export have 

 brought a sum of £70,000 to the revenue. The 

 authorities have made attempts to teach the tea- 

 grower that the application of proper fertilisers 

 will not only increase the crop but will not in- 

 jure the flavour of the tea It has also been 

 suggested to the grower as a wily step towards 

 decreasing the cost of production, that inferior 

 leaves, which at one time were almost a dead 

 loss to the dealers, might be utilised in the 

 manufacture of "pouchongs" and black teas. 

 This pouchong tea is an oolong, scented with 

 the flowers of jasmine and gardenia, etc., and 

 finds a market with the Chinese population in 

 the Straits Settlements, the Philippines, 

 Hawaii, and also in some part of the United 



States, where the Chinese are in considerable 

 numbers. In 1906 as much as 4,300,000 lb. 

 pouchong were exported from Formosa, about 

 one-half the quantity being the product of the 

 island. It is now the intention of the authorities 

 in Formosa to 



SECURE A MARKET IN TURKEY AND RUSSIA 



for brick and black teas of Formosan produc- 

 tion. In this manner it is hoped to utilise 

 the tea dust, which at present finds no market. 

 The exports of tea from Formosa during 1906 

 amounted to 21, 992, 000 lb., valued approximately 

 at £700,000, of which the United States took. 

 17,000,000 1b., against 18,000,000 lb. in 1905.— 

 H. & C. Mail, Oct. 9. 



CULTIVATION UNDER CANVAS. 



Tobacco More Especially. 



The use of canvas has revolutionised the to- 

 bacco industry, and by its assistance tobacco 

 growers have been enabled to produce double 

 the yield from the same ground. As a result of 

 growing tobacco under canvas tents, the Ameri- 

 cans, since they took possession of Porto Rico, 

 have increased the tobacco export five times. 

 This is partly due to increased acreage, partly 

 to better methods of curing and manufacturing, 

 but chiefly because the Americans have taught 

 the tobacco planters a new trick. 



Five years ago no suitable tobacco for " wrap- 

 pers," as the outer covering of cigars is called, 

 could be grown, but the American has shown 

 what can be done by raising it under thin canvas 

 cloth. Now the Porto Rico's tobacco patch 

 looks like a giant circus-tent covering hundreds 

 of acres. — Sunday Circle. 



FISH PRODUCTS FROM BENGAL. 



The establishment of a Fisheries Department, 

 the formation of a Fisheries Board, and the 

 purchase of a well-equipped trawler, indicate 

 the desire of the Government of Bengal to 

 develop the trade in fish and our knowledge 

 of new industries connected therewith. The 

 weekly excursions of the " Golden Crown " 

 have already brought to light several residents 

 in the Bay of Bengal that are new to science, 

 and it is hoped that, as an important article of 

 food, its market price may through this means 

 be brought within the reach of all classes. But 

 the eating of cheaper and better fish and the 

 storing of new specimens on the shelves of a 

 museum must not be regarded as the chief 

 objects of this commendable enterprise. In 

 other countries of the world the industries con- 

 nected with fish products and refuse give 

 employment to thousands of labourers and 

 realise for the owners thousands of pounds 

 sterling In India some of these industries have 

 never been touched, and we may hope that this 

 recent movement of Government may result in 

 profitable outlets for capital and employment 

 for fresh labour. 



From an American source we find that fish 

 materials employed in the arts and industries 

 may be roughly divided into five classes : (1) 

 Oils, fats and waxes ; (2) fertilisers from refuse ; 

 (3 skins of aquatic animals and leathers; (4) 



